The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1946-03-25
Entonologist Discusses
Various Forms OF DOT

EDITORS Note: This is the first
in a series of three articles on tne
new insectides, particularly lDDA'
DOT has acquired a tremendous
,on,1larity among farmers ana
,oroe owners as a result OF the dis
every of the insecticidal proper
;es Of the material and the wide
snread publicity given these prop
titles Unfortunately, this pubic
itv created huge demand ior
DDT at a time when its productlon
was sufficient to supply only the
needs of the armed forces and red
So1 ord state experimental work
At the end of the war, says DR..
walter M. Kulash, associate en-
+onoiogist with the Agriculture
Exneriment Station at State col
1ege. DOT was released for use
nv civilians, and since then,- us
chief civilian use has been 1or
ho1,seflv and mosquito control.
Foundations
The most common preparation OF
DIT that has been available fo1
civilian use has been per cent
DOT dissolved in kerosene or some
other suitable petroleum solvent,
Some of the early foundations Of
this type were Objectionable be-
cause of the possibilities OF stain
ing materials or because OF the
odor of the solvent used or the
fire hazard involved.
Newer Foundations of this type
are made with refined and odor'
less oil bases and, generally speak
ing. do not stain or have an oo-
iectionable odor and present less
of a fire hazard. The oil base
preparations of DOT do not leave
very noticeable residue. Fol-
household use, such an oil base
preparation, in addition to the
DOT, may contain some pyreth,
rum which insures quick Kill OF
flies and other insects.
Liquid Oil
A concentrated form Of the liquid
oil DOT spray containing % per
cent DOT is now available fol
those who make their own dilutec
sprays. .:,z
with refined odorless Kerosene "
other suitable oil base, to a spray
containing per cent DOT. a.
such, it may be used in the sans
manner as the regular manu1ac'
tured 5 per cent DDT oil spray
This type of spray does not leave
| visible type Of residue.
Another type of concentrate
DOT oil spray contains an EMU
styling agent which permits it to De
diluted with water. This type o.
spray is suitable for use where
wetting with water is OF prop
lem or where visible residue Is
not Objectionable.
Dust Forms
Undiluted 100 per cent DDT, pc
cause of it's coarse particle size
is not suitable for use as an IN
secticidal dust. It must first be
mixed with an inert powder, such
as pyrophyllite or clay (but not
line,) before it can be properly
used, DR.. Kulash says. Such COM
binations are now available on the
market and contain from per
cent to so per cent of DOT.
The 8, 5, and 10 per cent dusts
of this type are suitable for use
without further dilution. They
should not be mixed with water
or kerosene. AS household insectl-
cides, these dusts may be used to
control various pests, including
cockroaches, bedbugs, carpet pet
ties, silverfish, etc. The s per
cent dust is effective in the con-
troll of some crop pests. }~.
Dusts containing over 10 per cent
DOT are available to large users
for dilution with inert powders to
a finished dust containing lower
percentages Of DOT.
Dispersible Powders
DOT is not soluble in water.
None of the powders mentioned IN