A short history of insecticides

Journal of Plant Protection Research, 2018

Currently, the use of insecticides is an acute problem. Due to rapid population growth, the primary task is to increase food production. Beyond abiotic factors (drought, soil salinity, etc.) that reduce crop yields, farmers face problems with insect pests that can decrease crop productivity up to 60%. Also, insects are carriers of severe viral and protozoan human diseases. The need for application of insecticides is not questioned but many of them cause resistance of insect pests to them. This, in turn, leads to the necessity to invent new insecticides that are safe and more effective for long-term use. Preparations based on conservative parts of nucleic acids, particularly contact DNA insecticides, could be used to solve insecticide resistance problem as control agents which are well-tailored to target insect pests. This mini review is devoted to these issues.

Data in Brief, 2018

This data article is related to the research articles entitled "The RING for gypsy moth control: topical application of fragment of its nuclear polyhedrosis virus anti-apoptosis gene as insecticide" (Oberemok et al., 2016), "Molecular alliance of Lymantria dispar multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus and a short unmodified antisense oligonucleotide of its anti-apoptotic IAP-3 gene: a novel approach for gypsy moth control" (Oberemok et al., 2017), and "Topical treatment of LdMNPV-infected gypsy moth caterpillars with 18 nucleotides long antisense fragment from LdMNPV IAP-3 gene triggers higher levels of apoptosis in infected cells and mortality of the pest" (Oberemok et al., 2017). This data article reports on the significant decrease of survival of L. dispar larvae after contact application of 18 nucleotides long antisense oligoRING fragment in the field experiment and supports perspective of use of DNA insecticides in forests.

Development of selective properties insecticides that act on biochemical sites present in particular insect groups, but their properties are different from other insecticides. Aim of this study is the discovery of compounds that affect the hormonal regulation of molting and developmental processes in insects viz., ecdysone agonists (tebufenozide and methoxyfenozide), juvenile hormone mimics (pyriproxyfen and fenoxycarb), and chitin synthesis inhibitors (benzoylphenyl ureas and buprofezin). Insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptor such as imidacloprid, acetamiprid, and thiamethoxam has been introduced for the control of aphids, whiteflies, and other insect species. Novel compound pyradalyl (S-1812) has found to act selectively on lepidopterans and thrips. Neuroactive chemicals have played major role in management of insect pests in crops, their judicious uses led to several problems like insect resistance, secondary pest outbreaks, destruction of natural enemies', residue and resurgence. Now days the focus is laid down on development of new green chemistries insecticides having novel biochemical target for controlling pest, understand mode of action and resistance management. The mechanism of these insecticides targeting of a molecular target site present in pest on an enzyme form that is different from other organism. In recent years, several new insecticide groups having new chemistries viz., neonicotinoids, oxadiazines, diamides etc. are developed and commercialized for controlling pest. Novel insecticides will play a greater role in controlling pest because they are target specific in pest having no toxicity on non-target pest (environment friendly and toxicologically safer), high efficiency in pest control, and resistance management.

Conventional insecticides such as chlorinated hydrocarbons, organophosphates, carbamates and pyrethroids were successful in controlling insect pests during the past five decades, minimizing thereby losses in agricultural yields. Unfortunately, many of these chemicals are harmful to man and beneficial organisms and cause ecological disturbances. Although considerable efforts have been made to minimize the adverse environmental impact of pesticides and to maximize food production and health of the human population and domestic animals, there is today a great demand for safer and more selective insecticides affecting specifically harmful pests, while sparing beneficial insect species and other organisms. Furthermore, the rapidly developing resistance to conventional insecticides provides the impetus to study new alternatives and more ecologically acceptable methods of insect control as part of integrated pest management (IPM) programs.

2018

Pesticides are used as plants protection products. Among those, insecticides serve as agents to control insects. When incorrectly applied, however these substances may negatively affect people's health and natural environment. Administration routes of insecticides depend on many factors and vary from spraying to fertilizers. These different methods influence how insects prey and how pests develop. Additionally, too frequent use of the same chemicals can lead to development of resistance of insects to these insecticides. In order to prevent occurrence of negative effects of insecticides on surroundings, the effects of these compounds should be studied.

Trends in Plant Science, 2014

A field experiment on mustard var. Varuna was conducted during Rabi season of the years 2013-14 and 2014-15 at CSAUA&T, Kanpur. Among the various insecticides evaluated against the mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi Kalt, imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 0.2 g/litre showed the highest reduction Significantly lower mean aphid intensity 14 days after second the spray 6.89 and19.66 aphids/ 10 cm apical shoot were recorded on the crop treated with imidacloprid 17.8 SL with 94.09 and 90.34 percent reduction over control which provided significantly highest seed yield 2287 and 2235 kg/ha with 40.73 and 37.79 per cent increase in yield, respectively. Application of Thiamethoxam 25% WP was found second best treatment with 8.49 and 23.46aphids/ 10 cm apical shoot 14 days after second spraying with 89.91 and 87.54 percent reduction over control during both year with provided 2229 and 2216 kg/ha with 37.71 and 36.62 percent increase in yield. The ranking of insecticides on the basis of per cent reduction over control after second spraying after 14 days for the management of aphids most effective were imidacloprid 17.8SL and thiametoxam 25 WP and the least effective was spinosad 45 SC. Among biopesticides M.anisopoliae 1.15 WP was more effective than B.bassiana 1.15WP.Among the chemical insecticides imidacloprid 17.8 SL was found safe followed by thiamethoxam 25WP with less number of per cent reducing over control.

2015

The transition from empirical and applied approach toward a scientific approach in modern medical disinsection is a result of the discoveries of the organic chemistry. The most intensive used substance in this field-DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is introduced during World War II and contributes to world practical epidemiology just as antibiotics in clinical medicine. However, after the 70s, this substance was placed under a ban, because of the accumulated evidence of many adverse health and environmental impacts globally. Improvement of the insecticides after "DDT-era" is represented by the introduction of organophosphate and carbamate insecticides in the 1960s. Their broad application is determined by better ecotoxicological characteristics. The advance in biotechnology after the 1980s establishes the new class of insecticides-synthetic pyrethroids. Nowadays they are basic for the insect control. Pyrethroids are characterized by selective impact on insects with much less impact on warm-blooded animals and the environment. Insecticides from the newest class insect growth regulators realize their mode of activity by interfering with chitin metabolism and thus prevent an insect from reaching maturity. These substances have extremely low toxicity, which makes them very promising for the treatment of civilian and military facilities.

Pesticide Outlook, 2000

review the history of insect repellents from the 1920s down to recent work on plant-derived repellents