Alternative Insecticides (alternative + insecticide)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Processed kaolin as an alternative insecticide against the European pear sucker, Cacopsylla pyri (L.)

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 7 2005
C. Daniel
Abstract:, Application of processed kaolin particle film (Surround® WP; Engelhard Corporation, Iselin, NJ, USA) repels insects without lethal effects; hence side effects on beneficial arthropods are low. Processed kaolin may be an alternative to broad-spectrum insecticides used against European pear sucker, Cacopsylla pyri (L.), in organic and conventional pear production. A small-plot field trial was conducted in spring 2003 to assess this hypothesis. Multiple applications of processed kaolin during the first flying period of C. pyri significantly reduced the number of nymphs compared to the untreated control. Processed kaolin protected pear trees at least as good as the standard organic insecticide rotenone. Since the effects on the summer population could not be assessed in this small-plot trial due to the high mobility of the adult C. pyri, a large-plot trial was conducted in 2004. Thereby, the processed kaolin showed a very high efficacy and the population of C. pyri was kept under a damaging level over the whole season. At the end of June the population density of C. pyri in the processed kaolin treated area was lower than in the IPM treated plot. In conclusion, kaolin shows promise as an alternative control for C. pyri in organic and IPM orchards. [source]


Towards evolution-proof malaria control with insecticides

EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 4 2009
Jacob C. Koella
Abstract As many strategies to control malaria use insecticides against adult mosquitoes, control is undermined by the continual evolution of resistant mosquitoes. Here we suggest that using alternative insecticides, or conventional insecticides in alternative ways might enable effective control, but delay considerably or prevent the evolution of resistance. Our reasoning relies on an epidemiological and an evolutionary principle: (i) the epidemiology of malaria is strongly influenced by the life-span of mosquitoes, as most infected mosquitoes die before the malaria parasite has completed its development; and (ii) evolutionary pressure is strongest in young individuals, for selection on individuals that have completed most of their reproduction has little evolutionary effect. It follows from these principles, first, that insecticides that kill mosquitoes several days after exposure can delay considerably the evolution of resistance and, second, that the evolution of resistance against larvicides can actually benefit control, if it is associated with shorter life-span or reduced biting in adults. If a late-acting insecticide and a larvicide are combined, the evolution of resistance against larvicides can in some circumstances prevent the evolution of resistance against the more effective, late-acting insecticide, leading to sustainable, effective control. We discuss several potential options to create such insecticides, focussing on biopesticides. [source]


Cost-comparison of DDT and alternative insecticides for malaria control

MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 4 2000
K. Walker
Summary In anti-malaria operations the use of DDT for indoor residual spraying has declined substantially over the past 30 years, but this insecticide is still considered valuable for malaria control, mainly because of its low cost relative to alternative insecticides. Despite the development of resistance to DDT in some populations of malaria vector Anopheles mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), DDT remains generally effective when used for house-spraying against most species of Anopheles, due to excitorepellency as well as insecticidal effects. A 1990 cost comparison by the World Health Organization (WHO) found DDT to be considerably less expensive than other insecticides, which cost 2 to 23 times more on the basis of cost per house per 6 months of control. To determine whether such a cost advantage still prevails for DDT, this paper compares recent price quotes from manufacturers and WHO suppliers for DDT and appropriate formulations of nine other insecticides (two carbamates, two organophosphates and five pyrethroids) commonly used for residual house-spraying in malaria control programmes. Based on these ,global' price quotes, detailed calculations show that DDT is still the least expensive insecticide on a cost per house basis, although the price appears to be rising as DDT production declines. At the same time, the prices of pyrethroids are declining, making some only slightly more expensive than DDT at low application dosages. Other costs, including operations (labour), transportation and human safety may also increase the price advantages of DDT and some pyrethroids vs. organophosphates and carbamates, although possible environmental impacts from DDT remain a concern. However, a global cost comparison may not realistically reflect local costs or effective application dosages at the country level. Recent data on insecticide prices paid by the health ministries of individual countries showed that prices of particular insecticides can vary substantially in the open market. Therefore, the most cost-effective insecticide in any given country or region must be determined on a case-by-case basis. Regional coordination of procurement of public health insecticides could improve access to affordable products. [source]


Comparison of dose responses and resistance ratios in four populations of the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), to 20 insecticides

PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 3 2008
Yue Ping He
Abstract BACKGROUND: Chemical control is a major strategy for suppressing the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis (Walker). Owing to their high toxicity and increasing resistance development in the target insect, many insecticides will be phased out entirely in 2007 in China. Alternatives with relatively low toxicity are urgently needed to replace traditional chemicals for rice stem borer control. In this study, the authors examined four field populations of C. suppressalis for their toxicological responses to more than 20 insecticides, including a few low-toxicity organophosphates and many novel pesticides. Interpopulation resistance levels to 12 conventional insecticides were also compared. RESULTS: Based on LD50 values, the rice stem borer was most sensitive to avermectins and fipronil (LD50 < 1 ng larva,1). The stem borers exhibited the least sensitivity to endosulfan (LD50 > 100 ng larva,1) and monosultap (LD50 > 1000 ng larva,1). Insect growth regulators and chitin synthase inhibitors showed great efficacy against C. suppressalis, especially against populations that had developed resistance to conventional insecticides. Four field populations showed variable tolerance levels to many insecticides. LYG05 was the most susceptible population, only with a low level of resistance to monosultap (RR = 6.6). NC05 and GL05 populations exhibited intermediate tolerance levels with RR values up to 20.4 and 52.8 respectively. RA05 was the most resistant population to many insecticides, with resistance ratios up to 76.2. CONCLUSION: The results from this study provide valuable information for selection and adoption of new alternative insecticides and for resistance management of the rice stem borer. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Esterase-based resistance in the tobacco-adapted form of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in the eastern United States

ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY (ELECTRONIC), Issue 2 2009
Lakshmipathi Srigiriraju
Abstract Organophosphates and carbamates represent alternative insecticides in managing the tobacco-adapted form of the green peach aphid (TGPA), Myzus persicae (Sulzer), a major pest of tobacco in the United States and around the world. General esterases that detoxify these insecticides were assessed in green, red, and orange morphs of field-collected M. persicae. A total of 136 aphid colonies were collected from 2004 though 2007 and screened for total esterase activity. The green morphs had lower esterase levels, with a mean of 77±6.6,nmol/min/mg protein, as compared to red (84±2.9,nmol/min/mg protein) and orange morphs (172±16.5,nmol/min/mg protein). Overall esterase activities, and those for the red and green morphs, were positively correlated with LC50 values for acephate (organophosphate) and methomyl (carbamate) assessed in leaf-dip bioassays. Esterase genes responsible for higher esterase activities were diagnosed by gene amplification studies. Twenty-three of 24 colonies tested had either the E4 or FE4 gene amplified, both known to confer esterase-based resistance. Fifteen out of the 24 colonies tested had amplified E4 gene and four colonies had FE4 gene amplification. All orange morphs and one green morph had both E4 and FE4 genes amplified. This unique phenotype, where two esterase genes were amplified had an 865-bp band characteristic of the FE4 gene and an additional 381-bp band characteristic of a deleted upstream region of the E4 gene. Changes that occurred in esterase-based resistance in the TGPA over the past two decades and their implications on insecticide resistance management are discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]