A B S T R A C TThe lust 40 years has seen significant evolution of. the synthetic pyrethroids from their relatioelp restricted usage in domestic fly and mosquito control to their adoption in ull major ureus of public heulth pest control. The use of' tl7e synthetic pyrethroids in national and international control campuigns and it7 village leael selj4ielp pest-control schemes fbr major disease uectors such as mosquitoes, tsetse und blackfly is e.uamined. Their successfirl introduction into the urban public health sector for control of' cockroaches, fleas, bedbugs and lice, etc., is reviewed.