L:r^ * RY 
 STATE PLANT BOARD 
 
 February 1946 E-682 
 
 United States Department of Agriculture 
 Agricultural Research Administration 
 Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine 
 
 INSECTICIDAL TESTS OF SOME MATERIALS ON THE MEXICAN BEAN BEETLE 
 
 By E. R. McGovran and P. G. Piquett 
 Division of Control Investigations 
 
 The Mexican bean beetle ( Epilachna varivestis Muls.) has been 
 used as a test insect to determine whether materials found toxic to 
 other insects were toxic to this species. The materials include a 
 large number of synthetic organic compounds, various formulations 
 containing DDT, nicotine preparations, and plant materials. The 
 tests were made when insects and bean foliage were available in the 
 field. 
 
 Technique 
 
 The spray-tower technique 1/ was used in making these tests. 
 In some of the tests adult beetles were used, but in most of them 
 late third-instar or early f ourth-instar larvae were the test 
 insects. Observations were made on feeding, but since in most 
 cases moderate or heavy feeding was accompanied by low mortality no 
 record of the feeding is included in this report. In most instances 
 4 tests with 10 insects each were made on each material. Acacia 
 (gum arabic) at 1:1000 was used as the wetting agent in most of the 
 sprays. Mortality counts were generally made at the end of 6 days. 
 After the insects had been in a cage with a treated leaf for 3 days, 
 the leaf was removed and an untreated leaf was put in its place. 
 This gave an • opportunity for insects that had been slightly poisoned 
 but not .killed by the treatment to recover on the untreated foliage. 
 This change of foliage to some degree simulated conditions in the 
 field, where a few days after treatment insects can usually find 
 untreated bean foliage upon which to feed. Foliage-injury tests 
 were made on potted bean plants in the greenhouse* 
 
 McGovran, E. R. , and Mayer, E. L. A laboratory apparatus 
 and procedure for testing aqueous spray suspensions as insecticides. 
 U.S. Bur. Eat. and Plant Quar. ET-208, 7 pp. 1943. [processed.] 
 
Derris Standard 
 
 Since derris, when available, ia widely used for the control of 
 the Mexican bean beetle, it waa chosen as a basis for evaluating the 
 various materials* Two samples of derris were used, one containing 
 4*9 percent of rot en one and the other 4.8 percent. The first sample 
 was used on adults and the second on larvae. When derris was used 
 at the rate of 1 pound per 100 gallons, the average kill of adults 
 was 91 percent and of larvae from. 34- to 62 percent (table 2), In 
 tests en larvae with 4 pounds of derris per 100 gallons the kill was 
 somewhat higher but usually not 100 percent. Manr adults and larvae 
 that had not fed appreciably on treated foliage, and appeared torpid 
 at the end of 3 days, revived and fed extensively on the untreated 
 foliage when it was put in the cage* 
 
 Synthetic Materials 2/ 
 
 The results with the more toxic synthetic organic compounds 
 tested ar* glv. .ai table 1* Of these, acetone se.^.-iarbazone and 
 4, 6-dinitro-oreresyl acetate were the most toxic, r ninoacetanilide, 
 cyclohexanone semicarbazone, dinitro-o-cresyl methyl ether, and ethyl 
 methyl ketone semicarbazone also showed high toxicity. All these 
 compounds except p-aminoacetanilide caused foliage injury. 
 
 2/ Most of the synthetic materials tested were furnished by 
 the Division of Insecticide Investigations. 
 
Table 1. — Synthetic materials showing considerable insecticidal 
 action On the Mexidan bean beetle 
 
 Material 1/ 
 
 Stage 
 of 
 insect 
 
 Concentration 
 
 Mortality 2/ 
 
 
 
 Percent 
 
 Percent 
 
 Acetone semicarbazone 
 
 A 
 
 1 
 
 .5 
 
 ♦25 
 
 .125 
 
 85 (m-se) 
 
 85 
 
 80 
 
 U6 
 
 Acetone semicarbazone $0 S lime 5C 
 
 Irk 
 
 1 
 
 l00*(t-sl) 
 
 p-Aminoacetanilide 
 
 A 
 
 .125 
 .25 
 
 .5 
 
 l 
 
 7 
 
 50 
 
 78 (n) 
 91 
 
 m-Aminoacetanilide hydrochloride 
 
 A 
 
 l 
 
 78 
 
 p-Aminoazobenzene hydrochloride 
 
 A 
 
 .5 
 
 l 
 
 65 
 69 
 
 p-Bromo-N-ethylbenzenesulfonamide L-k 
 
 l 
 
 52* 
 
 N-Butyl-m-nitrobenzamide 
 
 L-3 
 
 l 
 
 35* 
 
 N-se c -Butyl-n-nitrobenzaadde 
 
 L-3 
 
 
 ) .Alt 
 
 2- ( p-Chlorophenyl ) -2-ph*nyl- 
 ±,•1 , 1-trichloroethane 
 
 L-3 
 
 1 
 
 57* 
 
 Cyclohexanpne semicarbazone 
 
 L-U 
 
 .5 
 
 l 
 
 85* 
 
 91*(sl-se) 
 
 Cyclopentanone semicarbazone 
 
 Irk. 
 
 .5 
 
 l 
 
 U9* 
 60* 
 
 alpha , be ta-Dibromo-be ta-n i t r o- 
 •thylbenaene 
 
 Irh 
 
 l 
 
 U6» 
 
Table 1. — (Continued) 
 
 Material 1/ 
 
 Stage 
 of 
 
 insect 
 
 Concentration 
 
 Mortality 2/ 
 
 
 
 Percent 
 
 Percent 
 
 N , N-Die thylc innamide 
 
 
 1 
 
 6o* 
 
 l*,6-Dinitro-o-cresyl acetate 
 
 A 
 
 .125 
 .25 
 
 .5 
 
 l 
 
 80 (si) 
 9h 
 88 
 92 
 
 h , 6-Dinitr o~o-cresyl ethyl ether 
 
 L-3 
 
 l 
 
 57* 
 
 Dinitro-=o~cresyl methyl ether 
 
 A 
 
 .25 
 
 1 
 
 55 
 
 93 (sl-m) 
 
 Diphenylene oxide 
 
 A 
 
 1 
 
 51 
 
 Diphenylene oxide 50, magnesium 
 carbonate 50 
 
 A 
 
 1 
 
 66 
 
 Diphenylene oxide 20, steariG 
 acid 20, talc 60 
 
 A 
 
 1 
 
 69 
 
 Diphenylene oxide 50> zinc 
 stearate 50 
 
 A 
 
 1 
 
 52 
 
 Diphcmylene oxide 50, talc 50 
 
 A 
 
 1 
 2 
 
 33 
 90 
 
 N ,N-In\ propyl -m-nitrobenzamide 
 
 L-3 
 
 1 
 
 65* 
 
 gamma , gtama-Dipyr idyl 
 
 A 
 
 1 
 
 72* 
 
 Ethyl methyl ketone semicarbazone 
 
 Irk 
 
 .5 
 
 l 
 
 95* 
 
 85* (se) 
 
 2-Furaldehyde semicarbazone 
 
 L-ii 
 
 l 
 
 55* 
 
Table 1. — (Continued) 
 
 Material 1/ 
 
 Stage 
 
 of 
 insect 
 
 Concentration 
 
 Mortality 2/ 
 
 
 
 Percent 
 
 Percent 
 
 Isovaleryl-1 , 3-indan di one 
 
 L 
 
 1 
 
 85* 
 
 Pen ca chl orodi hy dr oxyt riphenyl- 
 rnethane sulfonic acid 
 
 A 
 
 1 
 
 81 
 
 Phenazine 
 
 A 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 81* 
 71* 
 
 Phenothiazine 
 
 A 
 
 1 
 
 94 
 
 Phenoxathiin 
 
 A 
 
 1 
 
 61* 
 
 p-Phenylaz oaniline 
 
 A 
 
 .125 
 .25 
 
 1 
 
 
 14 
 
 78 
 
 p-Phenylenediamine 
 
 A 
 
 .125 
 .25 
 
 1 
 
 13 
 32 
 67 
 
 £-Phenylenedianine dihydrochloride A 
 
 1 
 
 74 
 
 beta-Tetrahydronaphthoylaceto— 
 nitrile. 50, oyrophyllite 50 
 
 L-4. 
 
 2 
 
 55* 
 
 l-Trichloro-2-2 bis(p-methoxy- 
 phenyl) ethane 
 
 L 
 
 1 
 
 65* 
 
 2 , U- ( Tri chlor omet hyl ) -sym-trioxane L-3 
 
 1 
 
 47* 
 
 2-Thi o c oumar in 
 
 A 
 
 .125 
 .25 
 
 7 
 51 
 
 Xanthydrol 
 
 A 
 
 .125 
 .25 
 
 1 
 
 13 
 
 20 
 68 
 
- 6 - 
 
 Table 1. — ( Concluded) 
 
 Material 1/ 
 
 Stage 
 
 of 
 Insect 
 
 Concentration Mortality gj 
 
 Pfrrgeat 
 
 Percent 
 
 Derris (roteaone 4.9) 
 
 .125 
 
 91* 
 
 Derrie (roteaone 4.8) 
 
 L-3 and 
 L-4 
 
 .126 
 
 46* (1942) 
 62* (1943) 
 34* (1944) 
 
 Xj Numbers in this column refer to percent*. 
 
 Zj Starred items indicate 6- day mortality, una tarred items 
 3-day mortality. Letters in parentheses indicate foliage injury 
 as follows: n, none; t, trace; si, slight; a ( moderate; se, severe. 
 
 The following synthetic materials showed some toxicity when used 
 at eight times the concentration of derris, but never more than 
 equaled the derris standard in kill? 
 
 E-Bromo-N, H-dimethylbenz ene sulfonamide 
 H-Bromo-N-i sobutylbenz ene sulfonamide 
 E-Broao -$-p ropy lb en z ene sulfonamide 
 4- Camphor oxime 
 
 k-Ch.loro-N~-propylb en zene sulfonamide 
 Diazoamlno bens ene 
 
 2,4-Dim*thyl-3-pentanone semicarbazone 
 
 4,6-Dinitro-a-cresyl laurate 
 
 4,6-Dinitro-a-cresyl myri state 
 
 4, 6-Dinitro-pj-cresyl propionate 
 
 2, 4-Dini trophenyl propionate 
 
 Di sodium ethyl enebisdithio carbamate 
 
 Ithylidenebisbensamide 
 
 2- Fur ana cry lam id* 
 
 1-Benzoyl thiourea 
 
- 7 - 
 
 alpha, alpha, alpha, alpha' , alpha 1 , alpha* -Hexachloro-jt-xylene 
 
 2' -Hydroxy-2, 4,4,4', 7-pentane thylf lavan 
 
 N-I so butyl-a-ni trobenzami do 
 
 5-( p-Methoxybenzylidene) -2-thio-4- thiazolidons 
 
 p-Nitroacetaailide 
 
 4-Phenyl thio semi carbazide 
 
 o_-Phthalonitrile 
 
 4, 4' , 4 " -Triaminotriphenylcarbinel ( jL-rosaniline base) 
 
 alpha, alpha, beta-Trichlorobutyraaide 
 
 Veratrlne 
 
 Xanthene 
 
 The following synthetic materials showed little if any toxicity 
 to the Mexican bean beetle when tested at a strength of 1 percent: 
 
 Mfttfrtftls. Tested, at team 
 
 Materials Tested as Pasts 
 
 5-Benzyli&ene-2-thio-4-.thiazolidone 
 
 2-Chlorofluoreae 
 
 E.fc'-Diehlorophenyl sulfone 
 
 Diisophorone 
 
 1 , 4-Dini tro sopiperazine 
 
 1 , 4-Diphenyl s eai oarbazide 
 
 2-Fluo ry lam ins 
 
 alpha , alpha , alpha , alpha 1 * alpha ' , 
 alpha' -Hex&chlore-o-xylene 
 
 4-( a-Methyl-alpha- this toluyl) - 
 morpholine 
 
 N-Me thyl-n.~ni troben z aaide 
 
 Tetrachloroquinone 
 
 4-( alpha- Thiotoluyl) morphollne 
 
 1-Tri chloro-2, 2-bie( £-broaophenyl) - 
 ethane 
 
 N-Acstyl-alpha-naphthylaains 
 H-Acetyl-beta-naphthylaaiae 
 Allyl thiourea 
 
 3- Anl 1 inopheno thiazlne 
 Asebenzene 
 Asoxybenzene 
 Benzalazine 
 
 2-Chlo roacr idoae 
 Copper sulfoleoarsenite 
 Dichloramine-T 
 £,£.' -Dif luorodiphenyl 
 Bis( Srdlaethylaainophenyl) 
 sulfide 
 
 4- Hydroxyacridone 
 Nitroguanidine 
 
 H-B-Si trophenyl suif anyl) 
 
 acetanilide 
 Piperonal exiae, "anti" fera 
 Piperoaal oxiat, - syn" form 
 
 DDT Sprays 
 
 The results of tests with Tarious sprays containing DDT ( 1- 
 trichloro-2,2-bis(a-chlerophenyl) ethane) are given ia table 2. 
 When used alone DDT was not highly toxio to Mexican bean beetle 
 larra«. The addition of sulfonated castor oil to the spray greatly 
 increased its toxicity. The nixtures were prepared by dissolving 
 
- 8 - 
 
 the DDT in acetone and then adding bhe sulfonated castor oil. 
 Calcium cyanamide combined with DDT and sulfonated castor oil killed 
 all the larvae, but calcium cyanamide alone caused appreciable 
 mortality* 
 
 Table- 2. — Toxicity of variocc sprays containing DDT bo the Lexican 
 
 bean beetle 
 
 Formulation 
 
 DDT 
 
 concentration 
 in spray 
 
 l.iortality 
 in 6 days 
 
 
 porc^nt 
 
 Percent 
 
 DDT (technical) 
 
 1.0 
 
 16 
 
 DDT 1C percent in pyrophyllite 
 
 
 35 
 
 DDT 10 gm«, sulfonated castor oil 10 ml. 3 
 acetone 60 ml. : 
 
 ho addp<) ingredient 
 Plus calcium carbonate 5 C 171 * 
 Plus calcium cyanainide 5 grc« 
 Plus calcium sulfate 5 
 
 .5 
 
 95 
 95 
 
 100 
 
 95 
 
 DDT 5 ot., sulfonated castor oil 10 ml., 
 acetone G5 ml. : 
 
 ".'o added ingredient 
 Pius ammonium chloride 5 rn. 
 Plus ammonium hydroxide 5 ml, 
 i^lus ammonium sulfate 5 [p-» 
 
 
 65 
 57 
 55 
 • 70 
 
 "Jaloium cyanamide 
 
 1.0 1/ 
 
 
 Derris standard 
 
 0.125 y 
 
 3h 
 
 1/ Percent of material indicated. 
 
- 9 - 
 
 Nicotine Preparations 3/ 
 
 A number of preparations containing nicotine were tested against 
 Mexican bean beetle larvae. Nicotine refers to the uncombined 
 alkaloid often referred to as free nicotine. Mixtures with nicotine 
 contained 10 gm. of the compound to U gnu of nicotine. Of these, 
 o-nitrodiphenyl mixed with nicotine gave the highest mortality. 
 This preparation, when used at about 2$ times the concentration of 
 derris (I4.8 percent rotenone), caused 88 percent mortality as com- 
 pared with 3k percent for the derris standard. A 5-percent solution 
 of kO percent nicotine sulfate was slightly more toxic than 1 pound 
 of derris per 100 gallons of spray. Nicotine was somewhat less 
 effective under the conditions of these tests. The following 
 preparations showed little or no toxicity to the larvae when used at 
 many times the concentration of derris: 
 
 Benzyl nicotinium stearate 
 Butyl carbitol plus nicotine 
 
 Butyl ether of ethylene glycol (Butyl Cellosolve) plus nicotine 
 Cupric mononicotinammino oleate 
 Cupric nicotinammino hexoate 
 
 Cupric nicotinammino compounds of coconut oil fatty acids 
 p,p-Dichlorodiphenyl sulfide plus nicotine 
 Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (Aerosol OT) plus nicotine 
 Ethyl ether of ethylene glycol plus nicotine (Cellosolve) 
 Glycerol plus kO percent nicotine sulfate 
 Methyl carbitol plus nicotine 
 Molasses plus UO percent nicotine sulfate 
 Sodium salt of sulfonated ethyl oleate (Artie Syntex) plus 
 nicotine 
 
 3/ Most of the nicotine preparations tested were supplied by 
 the Eastern Regional Research Laboratory, Bureau of Agricultural and 
 Industrial Chemistry. 
 
 Plant Sample 
 
 A. sample of plant material that was tested, Humulus lupulus, 
 showed only very slight toxicity to Mexican bean beetle larvae. 
 
 Summary 
 
 Results are given of laboratory te-sts of the insecticidal action 
 of 9h synthetic organic compounds, 8 DDT and 13 nicotine combinations, 
 and 1 plant material, with the Mexican bean beetle ( Epiiachnav . 
 varivestis Muls.) as the test insect. Acetone semicarbazone and 
 U,6-dinitro-o-cresyl acetate were highly toxic to the insects but 
 caused injury to bean foliage. DDT combined with sulfonated castor 
 oil was more toxic to Mexican bean beetle larvae than DDT alone. 
 
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 
 
 3 1262 09238 7595 
 
 1