Emergence, survival, and fecundity of adult cat fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) exposed as pupae to juvenile hormone mimics.

Cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché), adults exposed to sprays of methoprene, pyriproxyfen, or fenoxycarb as cocooned pupae emerged approximately 1 d earlier than adults from water-treated control pupae. Mortality of adult fleas, after exposure to juvenile hormone mimics as pupae, was increased over that of controls. Females had higher mortality than males within the first 48 h of feeding. Fecundity of females exposed as pupae to juvenile hormone mimics was not different from that of controls. Early emergence of preemerged adults from treated cocoons is discussed along with reasons for higher female susceptibility to juvenile hormone mimics.