Comparing the Acute Toxicity of Imidacloprid with Alternative Systemic Insecticides in the Aquatic Insect Chironomus dilutus

Environ Toxicol Chem. 2020 Mar;39(3):587-594. doi: 10.1002/etc.4639. Epub 2020 Feb 11.

Abstract

Acute (96-h) toxicities of 5 systemic insecticides (chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, flupyradifurone, flubendiamide, and sulfoxaflor) were tested on larval Chironomus dilutus and compared with the neonicotinoid imidacloprid. Three insecticides were less acutely toxic than imidacloprid (2.5-25 times lower). However, chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole were 1.5 to 1.8 times more toxic to C. dilutus. Thus, these ryanodine receptor agonists could pose a higher risk to aquatic insects than their neonicotinoid predecessors, warranting further studies. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:587-594. © 2019 SETAC.

Keywords: Acute toxicity; Anthranilic diamides; Butenolides; Macroinvertebrates; Neonicotinoids.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chironomidae / drug effects*
  • Chironomidae / growth & development
  • Insecticides / toxicity*
  • Larva / drug effects
  • Larva / growth & development
  • Neonicotinoids / toxicity*
  • Nitro Compounds / toxicity*
  • Toxicity Tests, Acute
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity*

Substances

  • Insecticides
  • Neonicotinoids
  • Nitro Compounds
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • imidacloprid