A simple method is described for treating 250-ml glass Wheaton bottles with insecticide, and using them as test chambers for detecting insecticide resistance in mosquito and sandfly populations. The methods for treating bottles, obtaining baseline data, and applying this technique to insects from the field are described. Sample data are presented from tests run on different vector species using a variety of insecticides. Time-mortality data from the bottle bioassay are presented alongside results from biochemical detection methods applied to the same mosquito population. The potential role, advantages, and limitations of the time-mortality bottle method are discussed.