In flea control products, the purpose of including IGRs is to:

• A. Increase speed of kill only
• B. Kill adult fleas only
• C. Improve overall control
• D. Reduce cost

Answer: (C)

IGRs in flea control target the flea life cycle rather than delivering an immediate kill. They interfere with development, preventing eggs from hatching and larvae from maturing into adults, which reduces the number of new fleas that can emerge. This breaks the reinfestation cycle and provides longer-term suppression of the population. Because of this, the main purpose is to improve overall control by addressing immature stages and the potential for future adults, rather than speeding up kill of existing adults, targeting only adults, or reducing cost. IGRs are often used alongside adulticides to achieve both immediate reduction and sustained control.