The susceptibility of the Blattella germcanica (L.) in the Republic of Korea (ROK) to insecticides was evaluated under laboratory conditions using 12 insecticides currently used by the local public health centers and/or pest control operators in the ROK. The insecticides included seven pyrethroids and five organophosphages. Based on their LD50values, the order of susceptibility of B. germanica adults to the insecticides was chlorpyrifos-methyl, profenofos, and chlorpyrifos with the values of 0.07, 0.29, and 0.88 ㎍/♀, respectively. The least susceptibility was obtained with tetramethrin at LD50 of 7.39 ㎍/♀. In the comparative resistance test, the resistance ratios (RR) of 12 insecticides were compared to each other using field collected B. germanica adults in Seoul between 1993 and 2007. Blattella germanica demonstrated higher RRs to pyrethroids such as λ-cyhalothrin, and low RRs among the organophosphates. Among the pyrethroids, λ-cyhalothrin had the highest RRs of 111 and 129 fold differences at LD50 and LD90 values, respectively. Among the organophosphates, profenofos was observed to have the highest RRs of 4 and 15 fold differences at LD50 and LD90 values, respectively. However, there were no significant differences in susceptibility to tetramethrin, chlorpyrifos, and fenitrothion. Blattella germanica was more susceptible to pyridafenthion showing a 0.7 fold difference in a resistance rate (RRLD50), respectively. Resistance ratio of tetramethrin was low, but susceptibility was also not high.

• Kyu-Sik Chang(Division of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Health)
• JinSung Jung(Division of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Health)
• Chan Park(Division of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Health)
• WonJa Lee(Division of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Health)
• WookGyo Lee(Division of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Health)
• EHyun Shin(Division of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Health)