Carbofuran affects wildlife on Virginia corn fields.

Abstract

Carbofuran (2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7benzofuranyl methylcarbamate) is a commonly used carbamate insecticide-nematicide that is formulated as a granular and flowable product sold commercially as Furadan?. Carbofuran has caused wildlife die-offs across the United States and Canada (Stone 1979, Flickinger et al. 1980, Balcomb 1983, Balcomb et al. 1984, Flickinger et al. 1986, Smith 1987, Littrell 1988, Mineau 1988, Stinson 1990, Lyon 1991). In Virginia, carbofuran was implicated in at least 12 incidents of wildlife mortality from 1985-1990 (Va. Dep. Game and Inland Fish., unpubl. data). Documented deaths/incident varied from 1 to >200 animals. Species included bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata), eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis), American robin (Turdus migratorius), European starling (Sturnus vulgaris), chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina), redwinged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula), and American goldfinch (Carduelis tristis). Following 2 bird die-offs caused by Furadan 15G? in Spring 1990, the Virginia Pesticide