Control of arthropods in rodents

1. A method of controlling ticks in small rodents comprising providing one or more enclosures of appropriate size to said rodents, said enclosures having one or more peripheral openings allowing entry and egress of rodents therein, said enclosure including at least one applicator arranged to contact rodents that enter said enclosure, providing a composition consisting essentially of an ectoparasiticide and inactive ingredients on said applicator, and placing said one or more enclosures in a locus at which said rodents are expected; said applicator being arranged and said composition being provided to apply an ectoparasiticidally effective amount of the composition to the skin or hair of said rodents upon contact with said applicator, wherein the applicator is inaccessible to contact with a human hand from said one or more peripheral openings and further wherein the ectoparasiticide is a compound of formula:

also known as 3-cyano-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethyl) phenyl-5-N-(ethoxyacetyl)-N-methyl-4-trifluoromethylsulfinylpyrazole, said ectoparasiticide being present in said composition in an amount of from 0.1% to 5% by weight and present in said one or more enclosures in an amount of from 0.001 gram to 2.0 grams per enclosure.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the rodent is a mouse, rat, vole, chipmunk or squirrel.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the ticks are of the genus Ixodes.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the composition is hydrophobic.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of ectoparasiticide is from 0.100 g per enclosure to 2.0 g per enclosure.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the percent by weight of the ectoparasiticide in the composition is from 0.25% to 1%.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the device further comprises a foodstuff for the rodent.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein from one to ten enclosures are placed per hectare of locus.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the enclosure further defines a passageway through which a rodent is attracted to proceed.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the applicator is disposed in the passageway.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the applicator is disposed adjacent to or near one of the one or more peripheral openings.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the applicator is rechargeable from the outside of the enclosure without necessity to open the enclosure.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein the applicator is replaceable.

14. The method according to claim 1 wherein the applicator is a small mop head.

15. The method according to claim 1 wherein the applicator is a brush.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein from 1–50 enclosures are placed per hectare of locus.

17. A method for reducing the transmission of diseases by ticks comprising providing one or more enclosures of appropriate size for small rodents, said enclosures having one or more peripheral openings allowing entry and egress of rodents therein, said enclosure including at least one applicator arranged to contact rodents that enter said enclosure; providing a composition consisting essentially of an ectoparasiticide having the formula:

also known as 3-cyano-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethyl)phenyl-5-N-(ethoxyacetyl)-N-methyl-4-trifluoromethylsulfinylpyrazole, which is present in said composition in an amount of from 0.1% to 5% by weight and present in said one or more enclosures in an amount of from 0.001 gram to 2.0 grams per enclosure, and inactive ingredients, on said applicator, and placing said one or more enclosures in a locus at which said rodents are expected; said applicator being arranged and said composition being provided to apply an ectoparasiticidally effective amount of ectoparasiticide to the skin or hair of said rodents upon contact with said applicator, and wherein said applicator is inaccessible to contact with a human hand from said one or more peripheral openings.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the percent by weight of the ectoparasiticide in the composition is from 0.25% to 1%.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the amount of ectoparasiticide is from 0.100 g per enclosure to 2.0 g per enclosure.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein from 1–50 enclosures are placed per hectare of locus.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein from 1–10 enclosures are placed per hectare of locus.

22. A method of controlling ticks in small rodents comprising providing one or more enclosures of appropriate size to said rodents, said enclosures having one or more peripheral openings allowing entry and egress of rodents therein, said enclosure including at least one applicator arranged to contact rodents that enter said enclosure; providing a composition consisting essentially of an ectoparasiticide and inactive ingredients on said applicator, and placing said one or more enclosures in a locus at which said rodents are expected; said applicator being arranged and said composition being provided to apply an ectoparasiticidally effective amount of the composition to the skin or hair of said rodents upon contact with said applicator, wherein the applicator is inaccessible to contact with a human hand from said one or more peripheral openings and further wherein the ectoparasiticide is a veterinarily acceptable salt of a compound of formula:

also known as 3-cyano-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethyl)phenyl-5-N-(ethoxyacetyl)-N-methyl-4-trifluoromethylsulfinylpyrazole, said ectoparasiticide being present in said composition in an amount of from 0.1% to 5% by weight and present in said one or more enclosures in an amount of from 0.001 gram to 2.0 grams per enclosure.