Rodent flea control to prevent spread of diseases of which rodents are reservoirs has often been carried out using insecticides. The insecticides are either dusted or sprayed in the entire area affected or placed in baiting boxes sometimes with rodenticides to control rodents and fleas, simultaneously. Systemic insecticides to control rodent fleas though found efficient, easy to apply and less hazardous to the environment, have only been demonstrated in the laboratory and field, but have not been commercially available.
It is suggested that using novel pesticide formulation techniques such as microencapsulation, tableting, employing bait attractants and additives and synthesis of metabolites of effective systemic insecticide could lead to the use of baits containing systemic insecticide to control rodents and fleas simultaneously and avoid undue expenses and hazards.
