The effect of insecticides containing the thionophosphoryl group on peptide neurotransmitter action in the hindgut of Periplaneta americana

Application of phosphorothionate and phosphorothiolothionate insecticides at micromolar concentrations inhibited the hindgut contraction of Periplaneta americana induced by proctolin or proctodeal nerve stimulation. At identical concentrations, oxon analogues of these insecticides had no effect on proctolin or neural responses in the hindgut while a phosphonate insecticide, EPN, had a long-lasting potentiating action on contraction. The present investigation identifies a new site of organophosphorus insecticide action that may be a useful model system for the design and testing of pesticides that interfere with peptidergic transmission.     

Neural and behavioral correlates of pyrethroid and DDT-type poisoning in the house fly, Musca domestica L

Intact house flies were observed during poisoning caused by several pyrethroid and DDT-type insecticides. The two insecticide classes could be generally distinguished from each other based on differences in symptoms and several physiological correlates. Both insecticide types caused motor unit repetitive backfiring, but the temporal development and stability of repetitiveness were distinctly different between the two classes. Repetitive backfiring always disappeared at low temperatures, but DDT-type backfiring disappeared at lower temperatures than the pyrethroids. trans-Tetramethrin caused a threshold increase in flight motor nerve endings which did not occur in DDT or trans-Barthrin poisoning. Pyrethroids caused “uncoupling” of the flight motor pattern, while DDT-types did not. trans-Barthrin, a methylenedioxyphenyl pyrethroid, was unique in causing both symptoms and physiological aberrations which more closely resembled those of the DDT-types than the pyrethroids.     

Effects of chlordimeform and lindane on monoamine levels in the central nervous system of the american cockroach, Periplaneta americana L

The effects of chlordimeform and lindane on levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine, tryptophan, and N-acetyl dopamine were studied in the cerebral ganglia of the american cockroach, Periplaneta americana. The effects of chlordimeform on nerve cord levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine, tryptophan, dopamine, and octopamine, and the effect of lindane on cerebral ganglia levels of dopamine were also investigated in this species. Topical applications of chlordimeform deplete 5-hydroxytryptamine and tryptophan from the cerebral ganglia whereas levels of n-acetyl dopamine are elevated. The effect of chlordimeform on these compounds is dose-dependent. Similar chlordimeform-induced effects are observed in the nerve cord, and octopamine levels are also depleted in this tissue following treatment with chlordimeform. A biphasic response to chlordimeform is observed in the nerve cord for dopamine levels with a 40% decrease evident after 2 hr and a 30% increase apparent after 6 hr. In contrast to chlordimeform, lindane does not affect 5-hydroxytryptamine and tryptophan levels in the cebral ganglion but low doses of this insecticide effect increases in brain levels of dopamine and n-acetyl dopamine.     

Biochemical and physiological changes on Bacillus thuringiensis cotton after imidacloprid foliar spray

Bacillus thuringiensis cotton is a variety of cotton genetically modified to contain a gene derived from B. thuringiensis bacteria; which results in expression of toxin protein that confers resistance to bollworm complex (the most destructive pest of cotton). Introduction of Bt cotton lowered the need of insecticides, but still a number of insecticides are used for other insects like jassids, whitefly, aphids and tobacco caterpillar to which Bt gene does not provide effective control. Imidacloprid (tradename Imidacel 17.8 SL) is an insecticide designed for control of these major sucking/piercing insects that affect cotton. So in the present work we studied the post effect of imidacloprid insecticide on plant health of three Bt cotton hybrids (RCH-134, JKCH-1947, NCEH-6R) as there are reports of this insecticide causing growth and yield enhancements in absence of insect pests. Imidacloprid was first sprayed at recommended concentration (40 ml/acre) on 3 months old plants sown in randomly designed plots with three replications of each hybrid. The spray was repeated three times at 10 days interval. The level of B. thuringiensis gene expression, peroxidase activity and total phenols was measured on third day after every spray in leaves along with growth and yield of plants. The insecticide has shown to increase the level of B. thuringiensis protein, peroxidase enzyme activity, total phenols, height, number of bolls retained on plants and yield. These observations suggested that the imidacloprid treated plants showed better growth and development, thereby imidacloprid has growth enhancing effect on Bt cotton plants in addition to its insecticidal properties.     

Effects of topical and bath applications of the insecticide deltamethrin on electrical activity in a leg mechanoreceptor of the cockroach,Periplaneta americana

Two different methods were used to analyze the effects of topical and bath applications of low concentrations of deltamethrin. The first method enabled the analysis of the receptor potential as well as that of the spike activity generated by mechanical or electrical stimulation of the mechano-receptor. The second method enabled recording of the conducted spike activity originating from a mechanical stimulation of the receptor and propagated along the sensory nerve. Topical application of small amounts of deltamethrin (10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁷ g) had little effect on the receptor potential induced by mechanical stimulation of the sensory hair but blocked the action potentials within a few minutes. Electrical stimulation of the receptor cell revealed that conduction in the dendrite was affected first by the insecticide. The effects of topical application on conducted activity were compared with those of bath applications (2 × 10⁻⁸ to 2 × 10⁻⁷ M) and no significant difference was found, suggesting a rapid penetration of the insecticide through the cuticle. These effects were not reversible and this absence of reversibility was not correlated with the integrity of the barrier which protects the receptor cell from rapid changes in the ionic composition of the hemolymph. Deltamethrin was never found to induce bursts of activity in the mechanoreceptor cell under investigation either at rest or following mechanical or electrical stimulation. There are, however, some indications that other receptor cells may respond differently to this insecticide.     

Effect of insecticide injection on pyruvate kinase of the insect Tenebrio molitor (Coleopteran)

In the present study, we report on the changes observed in the kinetic properties of pyruvate kinase (PK) from whole body homogenate in the three developmental stages of the insect Tenebrio molitor after insecticide or acetone injection, and after injury and 24 h starvation. The apparent K_m value of the enzyme towards phosphoenolpyruvate was higher in the pupae stage than in the rest developmental stages although the same enzyme type appears to be present throughout the life span of the insect as judged by its V_max and sensitivity towards ATP and Alanine. The highest specific activity, twice as high as that of larvae and pupae, was observed in adults. Starvation resulted to activation of the enzyme by increasing the K_m value in the two feeding stages, namely larvae and adult, while injury had the opposite effect. Acetone injection did not have any significant effect at any stage. Insecticide injection had varying effects, depending upon the developmental stage, the dose and the type of the insecticide. In larvae, low doses of methyl paraoxon and methyl parathion activated the enzyme but as the dose increased the K_m value returned to normal levels. Low dose of decamethrin activated the enzyme also but at high dose it caused a severe inactivation as judged by a fivefold increase of the observed K_m. In pupae, decamethrin had no effect, methyl parathion had similar effects to those observed in larvae, and methyl paraoxon caused activation of the enzyme at any dose given. In the adult stage none of the injected insecticides had any effect on the K_m value although V_max and specific activity were significantly altered.     

Synergism of organophosphorus insecticides by diethyl maleate and related compounds in house flies

The toxicity of several organophosphorus and one carbamate insecticide for house flies is enhanced by simultaneous administration of diethyl maleate. Synergism factors vary from 2 to 116 and are strongly dependent on the combination of strain and insecticide studied. In general, it seems that thiono compounds are less synergized than their oxon analogs. Comparison of some analogs of maleic acid esters showed that the diethyl ester was not the most active compound. trans-Phenylbutenone was found to be a good alternative for diethyl maleate. Both diethyl maleate and trans-phenylbutenone deplete glutathione in the flies, but this depletion per se is certainly not the most important mode of action. In vitro experiments made clear that sufficient glutathione remained to permit a substantial insecticide degradation rate. Moreover, treatment of the flies with diethyl maleate 2–4 hr before the insecticide application resulted in a partial or complete disappearance of synergism in a period in which the glutathione concentration in the flies was still very low. Apart from this effect on the glutathione levels in the insect tissues it appeared from further experimental work in vitro that both compounds had a direct inhibitory effect on glutathione-dependent transferase(s) as well as on oxidative enzymes involved in insecticide degradation. The contribution of these reactions to the eventual synergism factor is discussed.     

Response to the insecticide chlorpyrifos by arthropods on maize canopy

We assessed the response of maize canopy arthropods to the insecticide chlorpyrifos. Four 0.3 ha (18 2 180 m) plots were divided into two subplots, a control and a treated area. During tasseling of the plants, the treated area was sprayed twice, with an interval of 3 days. Ten plants were sampled: 1 day before spraying, and 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after spraying. The insecticide had no effect on insect herbivores: a high density of Spodoptera frugiperda larvae was present in the treated plots. A few predator arthropod species were negatively affected by the insecticide, but their numbers or activity increased 2 weeks after the treatment of the plots. A canonical variate analysis showed no pronounced effect of the insecticide on arthropod communities; the largest variations on species abundance were related to sampling occasion. These results can be explained by the combination of the short period of chlorpyrifos residual activity on the plant surface and the great potential for recolonization of the areas by most of the monitored arthropods.     

Pharmacokinetic behavior of enantiomeric pyrethroid esters in the cockroach,Periplaneta americana L

The potent pyrethroid insecticide NRDC 157 (I; 3-phenoxybenzyl (1R, cis)-3 - (2,2-dibromovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate) and its insecticidally inactive 1S, cis enantiomer (II) have similar cuticular penetration rates and are detectable in the hemolymph, nerve cord, fat body, and midgut of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, within 2 hr of topical application at 0.17 μg/g, a just-lethal dose of I. At this dose, both enantiomers show similar distribution patterns in these tissues, but symptoms of intoxication are seen only with I. Steady state concentrations of both enantiomers in the hemolymph and nerve cord are between 1.2 × 10^?7 and 1.7 × 10^?7M. I and II are not detectably hydrolyzed by fat body, nerve cord, and hemolymph preparations and are not detectably oxidized by fat body preparations in vitro, but a very low oxidation rate is measured for II, but not I, in nerve cord preparations. These results do not demonstrate a pharmacokinetic basis for the difference in insecticidal activity between enantiomers and therefore it is likely that the site of pyrethroid action is stereospecific. The use of the inactive enantiomer II as a model to study the effects of dose on penetration and distribution in the absence of symptoms is explored.     

Relative effects of the insecticide thiamethoxam on the predator Podisus nigrispinus and the tobacco whitefly Bemisia tabaci in nectaried and nectariless cotton

The predaceous stinkbug Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) feeds on plants as well as on arthropod prey. The question arises whether feeding on plants might expose the predator to systemic insecticide via ingestion of the active ingredient or its metabolites through plant sap of treated plants. This interaction was investigated with nectaried and nectariless cotton plants cropped in pots and treated with the systemic insecticide thiamethoxam at 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg per plant as a root drench. Development of P. nigrispinus fed on prey and on treated nectaried and nectariless cotton plants and confined at 15, 30 and 45 days after insecticide application, and adult reproduction from nymphs caged 30 days after treatment were determined. Podisus nigrispinus life history traits were unaffected by the type of cotton plant, nectaried or nectariless, but were significantly affected by insecticide dose and time after application. Developmental time was extended and fresh adult body weight was reduced by feeding on prey and treated plants. Nymphs caged on treated plants with the highest thiamethoxam concentration at 15 days after application produced only 13.2% of adults. Females emerged from nymphs caged on both plants and at all thiamethoxam concentrations at day 30 after application presented similar reproductive characteristics, except for age of first oviposition, which was delayed on plants treated with the highest thiamethoxam concentration. Thiamethoxam at 0.5 mg per plant restrained tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) colonization only during the first 15 days after application to either cotton plant, and similar immature densities were sampled at day 35 after application on treated and untreated plants. However, plants treated with 1.0 and 2.0 mg per plant as a drench and cropped in pots were protected from tobacco whitefly for up to 45 days after exposure to a whitefly colony.     

Pyrethroid resistance mechanisms in Australian Helicoverpa armigera

In 1983, at the onset of pyrethroid resistance in Australian Helicoverpa armigera, three resistance mechanisms were identified. They were: a strong nerve insensitivity (Super-Kdr), penetration resistance (Pen), and a factor which was overcome by piperonyl butoxide (PBO). Super-Kdr nerve insensitivity appeared to be a major cause of pyrethroid resistance and contributed to high-order resistance (> 100-fold). From 1987 to 1990, to monitor the effect of the Australian Helicoverpa insecticide resistance management strategy on insecticide resistance, we conducted a survey of the frequencies of these mechanisms in field-collected H. armigera. The relative importance of the Pen and Pbo mechanisms in resistant H. armigera have increased but Pen and Pbo confer only low order (～ 20-fold) resistance. We found no evidence of the 1983 Super-Kdr mechanism in the latest samples, but, instead, found another distinct Kdr-type mechanism. This mechanism was correlated with very low-order nerve insensitivity and was of little toxicological significance. The impact of the Helicoverpa insecticide resistance management strategy on pyrethroid resistance in H. armigera is discussed.     

Tree Injection in the Management of Horse-Chestnut Leaf Miner. Cameraria ohridella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

Insect and disease problems often occur suddenly, and frequently represent a crisis that demands immediate attention. There are some problems with tree health care because application of sprays to shade trees in urban areas requires specialized, expensive equipment. Microinjection is a type of trunk injection where small amounts of therapeutic chemicals are introduced directly into a tree without any contact with the environment. We applied microinjection technology by using VIVID^®II (Tree Tech Microinjection Systems, Morriston, FL, USA) insecticide to solve the problem with horse-chestnut leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella Deschka et Dimic) on horse chestnut tree (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) in urban greenery in Slovakia. In 2006 were treated 230 host trees in 12 localities, 337 trees in 15 localities were treated in 2007. Mean efficiency of control measures was above 95%. The presence of insecticide residues were analyzed in pollen. 0.145 mg/kg of residues was detected in pollen one day after treatment. It decreased rapidly 8 days after treatment and 16 days after treatment was not detectable. In spite of these results the treatment after blossom is recommended.     

Systemic effects of a neem insecticide onLiriomyza huidobrensis larvae

In an effort to expand the spectrum of larvicides effective against the pea leafminer,Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard), we studied the effects of a neem-based insecticide (Neemix-45) on the development of the leafminer under laboratory conditions. Bean plants were treated with a soil drench of 1, 5, 10 or 25 ppm azadirachtin or by dipping leaves in 1 or 15 ppm azadirachtin at various times before or during the development of the leafminer. Treating the plants with the neem insecticide before exposure to egg-laying adults had a greater effect on inhibiting the development of pupae and adult eclosion than treatment at the 1st-instar larval stage. The systemic effects from a soil drench had a greater adverse effect on pupation and adult eclosion than leaf dipping. Drenching plants with 1 ppm azadirachtin 24 h before exposure to adults had a greater effect (0% adult eclosion) than leaf dipping at the same time period and concentration (15. 6% adult eclosion). Similar results were obtained when drenching plants infested with lst-instar larvae with 1 ppm azadirachtin (11. 7% eclosion)vs dipping leaves at the same time period and concentration (44. 7% eclosion).     

0.2%高效氯氰菊酯粉剂对田间红火蚁种群数量及蚁巢迁移的影响

为科学评价触杀性粉剂对红火蚁Solenopsis invicta Buren的防治效果,利用0.2%高效氯氰菊酯粉剂对田间红火蚁蚁巢进行单蚁巢处理,分析粉剂施用剂量和次数对田间红火蚁种群数量及蚁巢迁移的影响。结果表明,触杀性粉剂处理可在短期内显著降低红火蚁的蚁巢数量和工蚁诱集数量,50 g/巢和100 g/巢处理1 d后,蚁巢数量降幅分别达55.17%和66.04%,工蚁诱集数量降幅分别达31.79%和51.95%,但5～9 d后基本恢复至处理前水平,第21天蚁巢增加率达86.21%和37.74%,持效性较差。增多粉剂施用次数同样也只能在短期内压低红火蚁的蚁巢数量和工蚁诱集数量,施用1、2和3次粉剂1 d后蚁巢数量降幅分别达61.44%、76.82%和80.79%,工蚁诱集数量降幅分别达55.40%、47.21%和28.36%,随着时间延长,蚁巢数量和工蚁数量很快恢复。虽然随着施药剂量增加,蚁巢增加率和分巢率明显降低,新蚁巢出现时间略有延迟,新蚁巢的体积明显减小,但整体来看蚁巢数量仍呈上升趋势,新蚁巢出现的距离和方位也没有明显差异。表明粉剂防治仅可在短期内表面上压低红火蚁种群数量,即使...     

八种杀虫剂对黑粪蚊的防治效果及残留分析

选择8种杀虫剂,分别在实验室和菇房条件下研究其对黑粪蚊的防治效果和对平菇菌丝生长的影响,并分析施药后不同时间平菇中的农药残留.结果表明,40%辛硫磷EC、40%氧乐果EC、48%毒死蜱EC对黑粪蚊具有很好的防治效果,但对平菇菌丝的抑制率明显高于其它药剂;10%吡虫啉WP、4.5%高效氯氰菊酯EC不仅对黑粪蚊成、幼虫具有良好的防治效果,而且使用后对平菇菌丝生长的影响较小;2.5%高效氯氟氰菊酯EW、4.5%高效氯氰菊酯EC、1.8%阿维菌素EC等使用5天后均未检测到农药残留,5%氟虫腈SC和10%吡虫啉WP药后15天仍能检测到残留.     

Effects of sublethal concentrations of fenitrothion on beet armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) development and reproduction

We present data on the effects of various concentrations of the organophosphorus insecticide, fenitrothion, on development, reproduction and eggshell structure of Spodoptera exigua. The insecticide did not change the male/female ratio in tested populations. The pesticide-exposed larvae were significantly smaller than the controls and their pupation was delayed. These changes were not proportionally concentration-dependent. After imaginal molting experimental females laid significantly fewer eggs than controls. This effect was the same whether one or both members of a mating pair were exposed to fenitrothion during the larval stage. In the egg stage the insecticide caused serious malformations of the eggshell. The exposure caused other types of clearly abnormal development of eggs: two micropylar regions were noticed. Hence, even a low concentration of fenitrothion in the diet can lead to serious disturbances in reproduction and thus possibly at the population level.     

The importance of nerve terminal depolarization in pyrethroid poisoning of insects

The effects of several pyrethroids and DDT were examined on neuromuscular preparations from larvae of Musca domestica, Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles stephensi, and Trichoplusia ni, in order to determine the importance of the type I effect (repetitive firing) and the type II effect (increased miniature excitatory postsynaptic potential (mepsp) rate, indicating nerve terminal depolarization) in the poisoning process. α-Cyano pyrethroids were very potent in increasing mepsp rate, and although DDT and non-α-cyano compounds were more potent at inducing repetitive firing, all these compounds increased mepsp rate at higher concentrations. A variety of evidence showed that the mepsp rate-increasing activity could be an important factor in toxicity: among all of the compounds, there was a positive correlation between toxicity and mepsp rate-increasing activity; mepsp rate-increasing activity had a negative temperature dependence; nerves of kdr larvae in vitro were resistant to the mepsp rate-increasing activity, commensurate with resistance level; and finally, increased mepsp rate and neuromuscular block were observed in poisoned insects, associated with paralysis. Among type I compounds, repetitive firing activity was correlated negatively with toxicity, but positively with knockdown activity.     

Insecticides and electrophysiological symptoms: A comparative study on a tarsal motor nerve of Locusta migratoria

Spontaneous discharges of a tarsal motor nerve preparation of the jumping leg of Locusta migratoria were recorded extracellularly under the influence of various insecticides applied to the in situ metathoracic ganglion of the insect. Insecticides from different chemical classes were found to exhibit rather specific electrophysiological symptoms: cholinesterase inhibitors produced groups of action potentials with highly increased frequencies, and led to the appearance of new units which were not present in untreated control insects. They also caused transitory phases of conduction blocks, the length of which increased as intoxication proceeded. The DDT analog tested could be characterized by pronounced repetitive dischanges, whereas the neuroactivity of pyrethroids was typically associated with a very regular spike pattern in continuous phases of extremely high frequencies. Also chlordimeform, a formamidine insecticide, was found to increase the spike frequency, but to a much lesser extent than that observed for the other insecticides tested.     

Prophylactic effect of green tea polyphenols against liver and kidney injury induced by fenitrothion insecticide

The ameliorative effect of daily administrated dose of green tea extract (60 mg polyphenols/animal/day) was investigated on albino rats Rattus norvegicus (150-180 gm) intoxicated with 1/30 and 1/60 LD₅₀ fenitrothion organophosphate insecticide for 28 days. Blood samples were taken at 14 and 28 days for further biochemical parameters. Histopathological studies were carried out in the liver and kidney at the end of the experiment. Significant inhibition in plasma cholinesterase (ChE), a biomarker of Ops, was recorded. Damage in the liver and kidney tissues was observed and confirmed with elevation of plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotaransferase (AST), albumin, urea and creatinine, as well as an elevation in the oxidative stress (OS) marker malondialdehyde (MDA). Decrease in total glutathione (GSH) content in erythrocytes and fluctuation in glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity in plasma was also observed. Green tea supplementation (60 mg/animal/day) partially counteracts the toxic effect of fenitrothion on oxidative stress parameters and repairs tissue damage in the liver and kidney, especially when supplemented to 1/60 LD₅₀ intoxicated animals depending on the duration. It seems that enzyme and metabolite markers of these organs need more time to be restored to the control level.     

增效混剂延缓棉铃虫对菊酯农药抗性机制的研究

用同位素标记体壁穿透测定法及不同种群神经敏感性电生理测定法,进行了增效混剂延缓棉铃虫对菊酯抗性机制的初步研究。结果表明,与抗性生物汰选相一致,显示出药剂对增效菊酯混剂汰选种群比对菊酯单剂汰选种群的棉铃虫体壁穿透率高、神经敏感性也高的特点。证明了混剂延缓棉铃虫抗药性确与体壁穿透率和神经敏感性有关,有机制存在,这就为使用增效混剂进行棉铃虫抗性治理的措施打下了部分理论基础。