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The Mechanism of Action of a Contact Insecticide

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

D. N. Roy  and
S. M. Ghosh
D. N. Roy
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Entomology, School of Tropical Medicine, Calcutta.
S. M. Ghosh
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Entomology, School of Tropical Medicine, Calcutta.
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Extract

In order to determine the method of entry of a contact insecticide such as pyrethrum into the body of an insect, studies were undertaken which showed that:—

(a) The rapid penetration of the insecticide into the body cannot be effected through the cuticle.

(b) When a mosquito has been sprayed with a mixture of pyrethrum extract and oleic acid, the deposition of fat globules around the tracheal trunks is a characteristic feature; this suggests that rapid diffusion of the insecticide takes place through the tracheal wall.

(c) Experiments on flies with their spiracles closed indicate that the absorption of pyrethrum, either in the liquid and powdered states, was very slow. This fact indicates that normally pyrethrum enters the body through the spiracle.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 35 , Issue 2 , July 1944 , pp. 161 - 170
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1944

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References

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