Development of Systemic Insecticides for Pests of Animals in the United States

Abstract

The first encouraging results in the search for systemic insecticides were obtained in 1944 by Lindquist and his co-workers (53), who found that bed bugs, Cimex lectularius Linnaeus and C. hemipterus (Fabricius), died after feeding on rabbits treated orally with DDT or pyrethrins. In 1946, Knipling and associates (48) treated rabbits with oral and intravenous dosages of insecticides, and reported that rabbits tolerated treatments of lindane and 2-pivalyl-I,3-indandione at rates that were lethal to mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus), and human body lice, Pediculus humanus humanus Linnaeus when feeding on the rabbits. These fi ndings, made at the Orlando, Florida, laboratory of the United States Department of Agriculture in conjunction with wartime research on the development of military insecti� cides, justified the initiation of a project on animal systemic insecticides at the Kerrville, Texas, Livestock Insects Laboratory. Since that date, en tomologists at Kerrville have worked intensively, screening candidate ma terials in the laboratory and conducting small-scale field tests with promising compounds. Concurrent toxicological observations have been made by co operating veterinarians of the Animal Disease and Parasite Research Divi sion, and analyses of residues of insecticides in meat and milk have been made by cooperating chemists of the Pesticide Chemicals Research Branch of the Entomology Research Division. A description of steps in the development of the first practical systemic insecticide by the cooperative effort of entomologists, veterinarians, and chemists, both in the U. S. Department of Agriculture and from other or ganizations and industry, is presented below. DEVELOPMENT OF THE FIRST PRACTICAL SYSTEMIC INSECTICIDE In 1947, the first test conducted at Kerrville with a systemically active insecticide involved the administration of 2-pivalyl-l,3-indandione to cattle naturally infested with short-nosed cattle lice, Haematopinus eurysternus (Nitzsch). The treatment was a dose which, in the test with rabbits cited above, was lethal to the parasite but safe for the host. With cattle, however,

An Overview of the Components of AW-IPM Campaigns against the New World Screwworm

“…Chlorinated hydrocarbons ( e.g. , aldrin, dieldrin, DDT, lindane) are effective against NWS [ 68 ], but their use became impractical because of excess of residues in fat [ 77 ], and being banned from many markets. Pyrethroids ( e.g.…”

“…Smears and sprays reduce drastically the infestation at the time of application, but the protective period usually lasts only a week or less, and animals have to be regrouped and retreated adequately to prevent reinfestation [ 77 ]. Under extensive grazing conditions, where animals are not examined at short intervals, repeating treatments is expensive and not practical.…”

“…Although the investigations had started in 1943, it was not until 1956 that ronnel, the first practical systemic insecticide, was announced [ 77 ]. The close cooperation during the following decades among the USDA, chemical companies, and team work of entomologists, veterinarians, and chemists, accelerated the development of novel systemic insecticides.…”

Efficacy of Crufomate on Cattle Grubs in Relation to Method, Rate, and Time of Application

“…was reviewed by Bushland et al (1963). After the initial discoveries of ronnel and coumaphos, many other compounds were tested, including Dowco 109, 0-4-tert-butyl-2-chlorophenyl 0-methyl-N-methylphosphorothioate.…”