Anti-insect testing

The following sections will discuss some of the more important test methods in use for fabrics with durable press, flame-retardant, soil release, repellent, UV protective, antimicrobial, anti-insect, anti-felting, hand building and weighting finishes. 

The anti-feedant activity of these compounds has been tested against various insects, including food storage pests such as Tribolium confusum. 

Bar-Zeev and Ben-Tamar used cloth treated with insect repellent to test for anti-ovipositional activity against mosquitoes in a laboratory however, their objective was to assess anti-ovipositional activity of the chemicals against mosquitoes as a simple technique for repellent bioassay. Kuthiala et al. used electrophysiological assay methods to show that the repellent deet combined with ethyl propionate reduced oviposition response against Aedes aegypti. Bentley and Day reviewed mosquito oviposition ecology and discussed the repellency of certain insecticides and other natural products that deterred oviposition. Table 21.1 and Table 21.2 list other smdies and reports on oviposition repellents, anti-oviposition compounds, or oviposition deterrents. The materials included extracts and oils from natural plant-based and synthetic chemicals. 

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