Abstract
d-Tetramethrin is a compound consisting of two parts of d-cis- and eight parts of d-trans-chrysanthemate isomers of tetramethrin. A study was made to evaluate the insecticidal activity of d-tetramethrin in comparison with that of several already known pyrethroids against housefly, mosquito and cockroach under several methods of application. d-Tetramethrin showed about twice as strong killing activity as that of tetramethrin against adult housefly, mosquito and cockroach in the topical application, whereas the killing activity was similar to that of d-allethrin and natural pyrethrins. The knockdown activity of d-tetramethrin was observed to be superior to that of tetramethrin, d-allethrin and natural pyrethrins. The flushing-out activity of d-tetramethrin against cockroach was found to be the best among the tested compounds. d-Tetramethrin is therefore a synthetic pyrethroid characterized by rapid knockdown and flushing-out activities. The applicability of the compound can be widened by adding to it a synergist and/or a killing agent such as d-phenothrin.
