Insecticidal activity of the pyrethrins and related compounds IV.—Essential features for insecticidal activity in chrysanthemates and related cyclopropane esters

A range of 5-benzyl-3-furylmethyl cyclopropane carboxylates and other esters are evaluated against house-flies, mustard beetles and two mosquito species. The results show the importance for activity of a gem-dimethyl group on the cyclopropane ring and that substitutions at C₃ give wide variations in insecticidal activity and marked species specificity. Some of the compounds had considerable knockdown activity against houseflies, but the structural requirements for this type of action differ markedly from those for kill.     

Sulfoxaflor and the sulfoximine insecticides: Chemistry,mode of action and basis for efficacy on resistant insects

The sulfoximines, as exemplified by sulfoxaflor ([N-[methyloxido[1-[6-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridinyl]ethyl]-λ⁴-sulfanylidene] cyanamide] represent a new class of insecticides. Sulfoxaflor exhibits a high degree of efficacy against a wide range of sap-feeding insects, including those resistant to neonicotinoids and other insecticides. Sulfoxaflor is an agonist at insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and functions in a manner distinct from other insecticides acting at nAChRs. The sulfoximines also exhibit structure activity relationships (SAR) that are different from other nAChR agonists such as the neonicotinoids. This review summarizes the sulfoximine SAR, mode of action and the biochemistry underlying the observed efficacy on resistant insect pests, with a particular focus on sulfoxaflor.     

Effects of monoterpenoid insecticides on [H]-TBOB binding in house fly GABA receptor and Cl uptake in American cockroach ventral nerve cord

Monoterpenoids and their derivatives from plant essential oils showed good insecticidal activities in previous studies, but the mechanisms of their action as natural insecticides are not known yet. In the present work, we evaluated the pharmacological action of five monoterpenoids (α-terpineol, carvacrol, linalool, pulegone, and thymol) on native insect GABA receptors from house flies and American cockroaches using radiotracer methods. In the [³H]-TBOB binding assay, carvacrol, pulegone, and thymol all enhanced the [³H]-TBOB binding to membrane preparation of house fly heads with EC₅₀ values of 48 μM, 432 μM, and 6 mM, respectively. Moreover, these three monoterpenoids at concentrations of 500 μM and 1 mM also significantly increased the ³⁶Cl⁻ uptake induced by GABA in membrane microsacs prepared from American cockroach ventral nerve cords. These results revealed that carvacrol, pulegone, and thymol are all positive allosteric modulators at insect GABA receptors. The other two monoterpenoids that were tested, α-terpineol and linalool, showed little or no effect in both the [³H]-TBOB binding and ³⁶Cl⁻ uptake assays.     

Evaluation of some selective insecticides and their combinations with summer oil for the control of the pear psyllaCacopsylla pyri

A field trial was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of several selective insecticides for the control of pear psyllaCacopsylla pyri (L.) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) in two successive years. Three insect growth regulators (IGRs) — diflubenzuron, pyriproxyfen and teflubenzuron, and an amin-hydrazine derivative — amitraz, were evaluated singly and in combination with summer oil (1%). All insecticides were applied at recommended label rates in both years. When compared with the untreated control, all insecticides alone and their combinations with summer oil, except for pyriproxyfen alone, provided control of young (1st and 2nd instars) nymphs. However, combined applications of these insecticides and summer oil were more effective than either insecticide alone for controlling the egg and young nymph stages of the pest. The products were less effective against older (3rd–5th instars) nymphs, even in combination with summer oil, and failed to suppress the population of older nymphs. Adding oil to sprays also delayed oviposition by winterform and summerform females. With the exception of oil with amitraz, combinations of insecticides with summer oil did not cause any phytotoxicity during the study.     

A new derivative of fipronil: Effect of adding a glycinyl group to the 5-amine of pyrazole on phloem mobility and insecticidal activity

Glycinyl fipronil, a new fipronil derivative with 5-amine acylated by glycine, was synthesized. The phloem mobility of the synthesized derivative was higher that of the parent compound in intact soybean seedling and its insecticidal activity against the 3rd instar larvae of Plutella xylostella was comparable with that of fipronil.     

Field validation of a decision support system for the control of pests and diseases in cereals in denmark

The decision in 1986, on an action plan to reduce pesticide use in Denmark by 50% led to increased research on the potential of reducing dosages. A decision support system (PC-Plant Protection), developed by The Danish Institute for Plant and Soil Science, implements this research. It combines a detailed use of threshold values to support decisions on treatment need, choice of pesticides and the appropriate dosage for actual problems in cereals. The pest and disease module within the system has been available commercially since 1993 and up to the end of April 1995, 2000 licences have been issued for its use at agricultural schools and by advisers and farmers. The recommendation model for pest and disease control has been validated in field trials since 1990. The validation has shown that the model is able to provide recommendations for the control of pests and diseases to a satisfactory level, without affecting farmers' gross margins. The model was able to adjust pesticide use to large yearly variations and the average amount of pesticides in the plots treated according to the model was well below that in the reference plots and in the commonly used strategies in Denmark.     

Polymerase chain reaction-based monitoring techniques for the detection of insecticide resistance-associated point mutations and their potential applications

The design of three PCR-based monitoring techniques for the genotyping of cyclodiene-resistant insects are described: (1) PCR followed by a diagnostic restriction enzyme digest or PCR/REN, (2) PCR amplification of specific alleles or PASA and (3) single-stranded conformational polymorphism analysis of PCR-amplified DNA or SSCP. The relative disadvantages and potential applications of each of these techniques are discussed and compared to the use of insecticide bioassays. It is concluded that, although such techniques will probably never replace bioassays for routine monitoring, they can more readily address several fundamental questions relating to the evolution and spread of specific resistance alleles in insect populations.     

Toxicity of botanical insecticides on Diaphania hyalinata,their selectivity for the predatory ant Paratrechina sp., and their potential phytotoxicity on pumpkin

The use of botanical insecticides could be an alternative efficient pest management in Cucurbitaceae against melonworm Diaphania hyalinata and less harmful to its predator. Few studies jointly assess the efficiency of botanical insecticides, their effects on pest, and their effect on the natural enemy and target crop. Here we examine (1) their impact against the melonworm D. hyalinata, a key pest of Cucurbitaceae, (2) their toxicity to the predatory ant Paratrechina sp., and (3) their phytotoxicity to pumpkin plants. The botanical insecticides citronella oil and eucalyptus oil were highly toxic to D. hyalinata and they exhibited to be less harmful for the predatory ant Paratrechina sp. Andiroba oil, eucalyptus oil, garlic extract, and citronella oil caused feeding inhibition of the D. hyalinata larvae. Eucalyptus oil, andiroba oil, garlic extract, and rotenone inhibited the oviposition of D. hyalinata. None of the insecticides was phytotoxic to pumpkin plants. Eucalyptus oil and citronella oil have induced high mortality and altered the behavior of target pests. In addition, they were selective for the predator Paratrechina sp. and not exhibited phytotoxicity on pumpkin plants. Eucalyptus oil and citronella oil seem the most promising compounds for incorporation into melonworm management programs, because they induced high mortality and altered the behavior of target pests and were selective for the predator Paratrechina sp.     

Use of biochemical and DNA diagnostics for characterising multiple mechanisms of insecticide resistance in the peach-potato aphid,Myzus persicae (Sulzer)

The peach-potato aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) can resist a range of insecticides by over-producing detoxifying esterase and having mutant-insensitive forms of the target proteins, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and the sodium channel. Using a combination of bioassays, biochemical and DNA diagnostics, it is now possible to diagnose all three mechanisms in individual aphids, and thereby establish their spatial distributions and temporal dynamics. A survey of 58 samples of wide geographic origin showed that all 46 resistant clones had amplified esterase genes (E4 or FE4) conferring broad-spectrum resistance to pyrethroids, organophosphates and carbamates. These occurred in combination with insensitive AChE (11 clones), conferring resistance to pirimicarb and triazamate, and/or mutant sodium channel genes (25 clones), conferring knockdown (kdr) resistance to pyrethroids and DDT. Amplified esterase genes were in linkage disequilibrium with both insensitive AChE and the kdr mutation, reflecting tight physical linkage, heavy selection favouring aphids with multiple mechanisms, and/or the prominence of parthenogenesis in many M. persicae populations. An ability to monitor individual mechanisms with contrasting cross-resistance profiles has important implications for the development of resistance management recommendations. ©1997 SCI     

Effect of Melia azedarach extract on the activity of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cholinesterase in insects

The effect of Melia azedarach extract on the activity of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cholinesterase was studied in Spodoptera frugiperda. Larvae were fed an artificial diet containing fruit extract and their midgut was used for enzyme determination. As compared to the control, consumption of the extract containing diet resulted in a 31% inhibition of the cholinesterase activity and a 34% activation of the NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity. In the cockroach Leucophaea maderae, the effect on reductase activity was even more pronounced (43%).     

The basis for the safening of clomazone by phorate insecticide in cotton and inhibitors of cytochrome P450s

Clomazone may be safely used in cotton to manage weeds when applied following treatments of the organophosphate insecticides phorate or disulfoton. The loss of chlorophyll and carotenoids with 6 days of 100 nM clomazone treatment of cotton seedlings was partially prevented with phorate in hydroponic solution in a rate-dependent manner. In a study to examine the timing of safening from a one-day clomazone (100 nM) treatment, maximum safening was achieved when phorate (50 μM) was applied the same day as clomazone. Phorate decreased metabolism of ¹⁴C-clomazone to polar metabolites in excised cotton shoots and shoots of intact cotton plants. Microsomal studies of corn shoots showed an NADPH-dependent/cytochrome P450 reaction was inhibited by phorate. Additional studies with corn microsomes, corn seedlings and cotton seedlings supported the basis of clomazone safening is the inhibition of toxic clomazone metabolism by P450 inhibitors.     

Implications of on-farm research for local knowledge related to fruit flies and the weaver ant Oecophylla longinoda in mango production

We interviewed half of the mango-growers in northern Benin, including 15 farmers involved in a regional fruit fly project, and held focus group discussions with women fruit-pickers. They were asked about pest management and their knowledge of a weaver ant, Oecophylla longinoda. All considered low yields due to fruit flies to be the principal constraint upon mango production, estimating economic losses to be between 20 and 45%. None could recognize damage during the first 2 days after fruit fly egg deposition. On-farm research persuaded farmers to stop using insecticides and it also changed negative perceptions of Oecophylla. Over 80% of the farmers involved in on-farm research, compared to 25% of those not involved, reported Oecophylla to be beneficial. All fruit-pickers knew that ants protected mango from fruit flies, with 60% attributing better mango quality in terms of appearance, shelf-life and sweetness to the presence of Oecophylla. Nevertheless, 40% of the pickers still considered weaver ants a nuisance pest during harvest. Ways of reducing this nuisance need to be developed for Oecophylla to gain wider acceptance by mango-growers.