Buprofezin: A Novel Chitin Synthesis Inhibitor Affecting Specifically Planthoppers, Whiteflies and Scale Insects

Abstract

Insect growth regulators (IGRs) are selective insecticides interfering with normal growth and development. Buprofezin, 2-tert-butylimino-3-isopropyl-5-phenylperhydro-1,3,5-thiadiazin-4-one, developed by Nihon Nohyaku in 1981, is one of the first IGRs mainly acting against sucking insects such as whiteflies and scale insects. As a chitin synthesis inhibitor, it expresses its action at the time of moulting; the affected insects are not able to shed their cuticle and die during this process. These symptoms resemble those induced by the benzoylphenylureas, although the chemical structure of buprofezin (Fig. 1) is not analogous to that of the benzoylphenylureas (Retnakaran and Wright 1987).