Selective Toxicity of Four O-(methylcarbomyl) Oximes to the House Fly and the Honey Bee1

Abstract

Selectivity between the house fly, Musca domestica L., and the honey bee, Apis mellifera L., was investigated with 4 O -(methylcarbamoyl) oxime compounds including Temik® (2-methyl-2-(methylthio) proprionaldehyde O -(methylcarbamoyl) oxime), UC 28982 (2-norbornanone O-(methylcarbamoyl) oxime), DC 27609 ( exo -3-chloro-2-norborna-none O -(methylcarbomoyl) oxime), and Tranid®, (exo-5-chloro-6-oxo- endo -2-norbornanecarbonitrile O -(methylcar-bamoyl) oxime. On the basis of both topical drop and oral LD50’s and LD05’s, Temik, UC 28982, UC 27609, and Tranid were significantly more toxic to the honey bee than to the house fly, indicating an unfavorable selectivity for the bee. With topical drop application, selectivity ratios (house fly/honey bee) ranged from 16.5 with Tranid to 2.5 with Temik. The compounds ranked: Tranid>UC 27609>UC 28982>Temik. With oral administration, selectivity ratios varied from 7.9 with DC 27609 to 2.5 with Tumid. At LD50 the compounds ranked DC 27609>Tranid>UC 28982> Temik; at LD95, DC 27609>DC 28982>Tranid>Temik. Temik was the most toxic material tested based on both oral and topical drop studies. Tranid was the least toxic material tested, and demonstrated little, if any insecticidal action. DC 27609 and 28982 were intermediate. Temik, DC 28982, DC 27609, and Tranid were more toxic by the oral route than by topical drop application to both test insects.