Bisacylhydrazine Insecticides for Selective Pest Control

In this chapter, we review five members of a novel class of chemistry, the non-steroidal bisacylhydrazine (BAH) compounds that are true agonists of the steroidal insect moulting hormone, 20-hydroxyecdysone. Also referred to as ecdysone agonists (EAs), the five BAH compounds have been commercialized for the control of lepidopteran and coleopteran larvae. Of these, four compounds (methoxyfenozide, tebufenozide, chromafenozide, and fufenozide) are predominantly toxic to lepidopteran larvae, while the fifth compound, halofenozide, is active on both lepidopteran and coleopteran larval pests in turf The evidence for the basis of this insect selective toxicity is reviewed. The nonsteroidal EA BAH insecticidal compounds are important tools in integrated pest management and insect resistance management programmes because of their selective insect toxicity, novel mode of action, and reduced risk for eco- and mammalian toxicology. In reviewing these BAH insecticides, there is greater emphasis on methoxyfenozide, the most widely used insecticide in this class of chemistry.