Rate of Loss of Trimedlure from Cotton Wicks Under South-Florida Field Conditions

The rate of loss of trimedlure from cotton wicks was determined by gaschromatographic analysis of residues remaining in aged wicks. Under winter field conditions in south Florida, using 2 ml of trimedlure per wick, the rate of loss was greatly reduced after 28 days, with most trimedlure gone from the wicks. Under warmer spring conditions, the trimedlure in wicks and estimated release rates were greatly reduced after 20 days. It was recommended that rebaiting schedules used by federal and state survey and detection personnel be modified to conform to these findings.