Fenoxycarb

Fenoxycarb is a carbamate insect growth regulator.^1,2 It inhibits embryonic and larval development in cat flea (C. felis) eggs and larvae, respectively, when applied to filter paper discs at a concentration of 1 µg/cm².¹ Fenoxycarb (1% w/w) decreases the number of worker red imported fire ants (S. invicta) by 95.9% after eight weeks when provided as bait.² It is toxic to D. magna (LC₅₀ = 0.5 mg/L) and fish, including O. mykiss, L. macrochirus, C. carpio, I. punctatus, and C. variegatus (LC₅₀s = 0.66-1.5 mg/L), but is not toxic to rats (LD₅₀ = >10,000 mg/kg).³ Fenoxycarb is also an antagonist of α4β4-, α4β2-, α3β4-, and α3β2 subunit-containing rat nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs; IC₅₀s = 3, 2.4, 1.8, and 7.6 μM, respectively) but not rat brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE; IC₅₀ = >1,000 μM).⁴

WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.

1. Marchiondo, A.A., Riner, J.L., Sonenshine, D.E., et al. Ovicidal and larvicidal modes of action of fenoxycarb against the cat flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae). J. Med. Entomol. 27(5), 913-921 (1990).

2. Banks, W.A., Williams, D.F., and Lofgren, C.S. Effectiveness of fenoxycarb for control of red imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 81(1), 83-87 (1988).

3. Authority, E.F.S. Conclusion on the peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance fenoxycarb. EFSA J. 8(12), 1779 (2010).

4. Smulders, C.J., Bueters, T.J., Van Kleef, R.G., et al. Selective effects of carbamate pesticides on rat neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and rat brain acetylcholinesterase. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 193(2), 139-146 (2003).