Toxicity of the chitin synthesis inhibitors, diflubenzuron and its dichloro‐analogue, to <i>Spodoptera littoralis</i> larvae

Abstract

Abstract The activities of the chitin synthesis inhibitors, diflubenzuron and PH 60–38, against Spodoptera littoralis larvae were assayed by feeding treated alfalfa or poisoned wheat bran baits, by allowing the larvae to imbibe sucrose‐containing aqueous dispersions of the compounds, and by injection into larvae. PH 60–38 was less active than diflubenzuron. On alfalfa, diflubenzuron had to be fed for at least 2 days to prevent formation of normal pupae and emergence of adults. For very big (480–540 mg) larvae, feeding diflubenzuron at concentrations of 50 mg/litre for 2 days or 2.5 mg/litre for 3 days prevented adult emergence. For 200–250 mg larvae, this was achieved by feeding concentrations of 100 mg/litre for 2 days, 5 mg/litre for 3 days or 3.5 mg/litre for 4 days. In all larvae &gt; 150 mg, mortality in feeding experiments occurred in the prepupal or the pupal stage. Only with 30–50 mg and 100–150 mg larvae was there considerable mortality during moults between larval instars, the larvae being unable to liberate themselves from the old larval skins and head capsules. Diflubenzuron incorporated into wheat bran baits at concentrations of from 2.5 to 10 000 μg/g killed approximately 70–90% of the insects. When imbibed, diflubenzuron was much less toxic as a wettable powder than as a liquid formulation but the two formulations were equitoxic when injected into the larvae.