Journal of Economic Entomology (1964) 57, 698-702

C.R. Harris and J.H. Mazurek (1964)
Comparison of the toxicity to insects of certain insecticides applied by contact and in the soil
Journal of Economic Entomology 57 (5), 698-702
Abstract: The toxicity of nine insecticides relative to a standard insecticide (dieldrin = 1.00) was determined (a) by direct application of the insecticides to the test insects using a Potter spray tower; and (b) by exposing the test insects to insecticidel residues incorporated into a field-moist Beverly fine sandy loam. First-instar nymphs of Gryllus pennsylvanicus were used as test insects. The relative toxicities of the insecticides parathion, mevinphos, Zectran, aldrin, diazinon, heptachlor, DDT, chlordane and trichlorfon applied both as contact sprays and in the soil were determined, and the results discussed. Experiments were also carried out on the fumigant toxicity of these insecticides, this being related to their volatility. It was suggested that the effectiveness of the cyclodiene insecticides aldrin and heptachlor in soils is due to the fact that they act as both contact and fumigant poisons; that diazinon and parathion were more strongly adsorbed by soil than the cyclodiene insecticides, thus rendering them less effective as both contact and fumigant poisons; and that the low toxicity of mevinphos and trichlorfon could be attributed to the influence of soil moisture.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied from Acridological Abstracts with permission by NRI, Univ. of Greenwich at Medway.)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Gryllus pennsylvanicus