Entomology Field and Semi Field Trials
With semi field and field trials, we make sure your pest control products perform reliably in real-world conditions where it matters most.
What Are Field and Semi-Field Trials?
Field trials are conducted in natural environments where target insect populations exist. These studies evaluate product performance under real-world variables such as climate, terrain, and natural insect behavior.
Semi-field trials (also known as controlled field trials) bridge the gap between laboratory and field testing. They are performed in enclosed or partially controlled environments such as screen houses or experimental huts where conditions can be standardized while still reflecting real-life exposure scenarios.
Field, Semi-field, and Simulated-use entomology studies offered by MIS
Regulatory-Aligned Efficacy Studies (BPR & EPA)
At Microbe Investigations Switzerland (MIS), we design and execute field, semi-field, and simulated-use entomology studies to support:
- Product development
- Claim substantiation
- Regulatory submissions (EU BPR, US EPA, WHO)
Our studies generate robust, real-world performance data across a wide range of flying and crawling insect pests, ensuring your product meets both scientific and regulatory expectations.
Types of Field Studies We Offer
1. Nest-Kill & Colony Elimination Studies
These studies evaluate the ability of a product to eliminate entire colonies or nests, rather than just individual insects. This is critical for products claiming long-term control of social or colony-forming pests.
Description
Active nests or colonies are identified in field conditions or simulated environments. Baseline activity (e.g., entry/exit rates, mound activity, or foraging patterns) is recorded before treatment. The test product is then applied directly to the nest, colony access point, or through bait delivery systems.
Post-treatment monitoring is conducted over multiple time points to assess:
- Decline in colony activity
- Time required for full collapse
- Confirmation of colony elimination
- Any signs of recovery or re-establishment
Key Value
- Supports claims such as “kills the nest”, “eliminates the colony”
- Highly relevant for professional pest control products
2. Trap Efficacy & Attraction Studies
These studies assess how effectively a trap or attractant system can lure, capture, and retain target insects under real-world conditions.
Description
Traps are deployed in controlled outdoor or semi-field environments with natural insect pressure. Multiple trap configurations or lure formulations can be tested simultaneously. Capture rates are monitored over defined intervals, ensuring robust comparison across treatments.
Key aspects evaluated include:
- Attractiveness of lure systems
- Capture efficiency under varying environmental conditions
- Retention performance (escape prevention)
- Selectivity and non-target impact
Key Value
- Essential for validating trap-based control systems
- Supports optimization of lure formulations and device design
3. Repellency & Deterrence Studies
These studies determine how effectively a product can prevent insects from landing, biting, or entering treated areas.
Description
Repellency is evaluated using controlled exposure systems, including human volunteer-based models (where applicable) and enclosure-based setups. Products are applied to skin, surfaces, or treated materials depending on intended use.
Observations focus on:
- Reduction in landing or biting behavior
- Duration of protection
- Spatial repellency (effect beyond direct contact)
Testing can be conducted across different environmental conditions to simulate real-use scenarios.
Key Value
- Supports claims such as “repels insects”, “provides protection for X hours”
- Critical for personal care and spatial repellent products
4. Population Reduction Studies
These studies evaluate the overall reduction in pest populations over time following product application.
Description
Field sites or semi-field environments are monitored before and after treatment to establish baseline infestation levels. The product is applied according to label instructions, and population levels are tracked at defined intervals.
Data collection includes:
- Counts of active insects
- Infestation levels across treated vs control areas
- Long-term suppression trends
Key Value
- Demonstrates real-world effectiveness beyond laboratory conditions
- Supports claims related to population control and suppression
5. Residual Efficacy Studies
These studies measure how long a product remains effective after application, which is critical for products with long-lasting claims.
Description
Surfaces or treated areas are exposed to insects at multiple time points following application (e.g., Day 1, 3, 7, 14, 28). The same treated surface is evaluated repeatedly to determine how efficacy declines over time.
Parameters assessed include:
- Mortality at each time point
- Knockdown effects
- Duration of effective control
Key Value
- Supports claims such as “long-lasting protection”
- Essential for coatings, sprays, and residual formulations
6. Direct Spray & Contact Efficacy Studies
These studies evaluate the immediate effectiveness of a product upon direct application or contact.
Description
Insects are exposed to the product through direct spray or treated surfaces. Observations are made over short time intervals to measure:
- Speed of knockdown
- Immediate mortality
- Recovery or delayed effects
These studies simulate real-use scenarios, such as household application or professional pest control treatments.
Key Value
- Supports claims such as “instant kill”, “fast acting”
- Critical for consumer-facing products
7. Clinical & Human Volunteer Studies
These studies are conducted under controlled and ethical conditions to evaluate products intended for use on or around humans.
Description
Protocols are designed to ensure safety, compliance, and reproducibility. Depending on the product, studies may include:
- Evaluation of insect detection or removal efficiency
- Repellency testing on treated skin
- Assessment of user experience and tolerability
All studies are conducted following ethical guidelines and informed consent procedures.
Key Value
- Supports claims for personal care and public health products
- Provides high-impact, real-world validation data
8. Customised Field Trials
We specialise in designing tailor-made studies based on your product, claims, and regulatory pathway.
Description
Each study is developed in consultation with the client, taking into account:
- Target application scenario
- Product formulation and mode of action
- Regulatory requirements (BPR / EPA)
- Desired claims and endpoints
We can integrate laboratory, semi-field, and full-field trials into a single development program.
Key Value
- Flexible, client-centric approach
- Ensures alignment with both market and regulatory expectations
What is the importance of field and semi field trials in the pest control industry ?
- Validates real-world efficacy – Ensures that your product works effectively under actual environmental conditions and natural pest infestations.
- Bridges testing gaps – Connects lab and semi-field results with real-world performance, ensuring consistency across different stages of testing
- Supports regulatory compliance
Provides essential evidence of real-world efficacy, often required to support regulatory approvals and ensure compliance with global testing guidelines.
- Optimizes product performance
Based on field trials results, manufacturers can refine or optimize their formulation for better efficacy and strong impact.
- Builds market credibility
Demonstrates proven performance, increasing trust among customers, distributors, and stakeholders.
- Reduces commercial risk
Identifies potential failures early, minimizing the risk of poor performance after product launch.
Why partner with MIS for field trial studies?
- Regulatory-aligned protocols (BPR, EPA, WHO)
- Strong expertise in field and semi-field entomology
- Capability to support end-to-end product validation
- Fast execution with high insect activity environments
- Fully customised study designs
Let’s Work Together
Whether you are developing a new formulation or preparing for regulatory approval, MIS provides scientifically robust, field-validated efficacy data to support your success.
Contact us to design your study.
