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Toxicity and In Vitro Metabolism of t-Permethrin in Eastern Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Toxicity and metabolism of t-permethrin were evaluated in two colonies (UP and ARS) of the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), collected in Gainesville, FL. The UP colony (LC50 = 1.86 µg per vial) was approximately twofold more tolerant of t-permethrin than the ABS colony (LC50 = 0.89 µg per vial) at the LC50. The synergists piperonyl butoxide and S,S,S-tributylphosphorotrithioate increased t-permethrin toxicity four- and threefold (at the LC50) in the UP and ARS colonies, respectively. Despite these differences in t-permethrin susceptibility, microsomal oxidase activities toward surrogate substrates (aldrin epoxidase, and methoxyresorufin Odemethylase), cytochrome P450 content, and microsomal esterase activity toward a-naphthyl acetate did not differ significantly between the colonies. Moreover, no significant differences in qualitative and quantitative metabolism of [14C] t-permethrin were observed between the UP and ABS colonies for three enzyme sources (microsomal oxidase, microsomal esterase, and cytosolic esterase). Based on in vitro metabolism assays, the major detoxikation route of t-permethrin in the UP and ARS termite colonies appears to be hydrolysis catalyzed by microsomal esterases.

Keywords

insecticide detoxification, t-permethrin, subterranean termite

Citation

Valles, Steven M.; Oi, Faith M.; Wagner, Terence L.; Brenner, Richard J. 2000. Toxicity and In Vitro Metabolism of t-Permethrin in Eastern Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 93(4): 1259-1264
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/2090