In the Gambian village of Saruja, where malaria is transmitted mainly by mosquitoes of the Anopheles gambiae complex, a trial was undertaken of the acceptability and efficacy of bednets treated with one of three pyrethroid insecticides--alphacypermethrin 40 mg/m2, permethrin 500 mg/m2 and lambdacyhalothrin 10 mg/ m2. Fewer mosquitoes were found alive under nets treated with insecticide than under control nets. Significantly more dead mosquitoes were found under nets treated with alphacypermethrin than under nets treated with permethrin or lambdacyhalothrin. Side-effects were reported by a proportion of the users of nets treated with each of the insecticides, but none were severe and their prevalence was similar between treatment groups. Unwashed nets treated with alphacypermethrin were more effective at killing anopheline mosquitoes in bioassays than nets treated with permethrin or lambdacyhalothrin. Killing activity was reduced when nets were washed, irrespective of which insecticide was used. Bednets treated with alphacypermethrin are well accepted, effectively killed anopheline mosquitoes and should therefore be evaluated for personal protection against malaria transmission.