Synergism of insecticidal action and effects on detoxifying enzymes in vivo of lambda‐cyhalothrin and malathion by some nitrogen heterocycles in resistant and susceptible strains of Tribolium castaneum

Abstract

AbstractThe interactions of the synthetic pyrethroid, lambda‐cyhalothrin and malathion were studied with purines, pyrimidines, caffeine and some other related nitrogenous compounds in resistant and susceptible strains of Triboliurn castaneum (Herbst.) The results were compared with those obtained with a known synergist, piperonyl butoxide (PBO) and precocene I. Adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine and uracil synergised lambda‐cyhalothrin, especially in the susceptible strain, with maximum effect at a 1:1 mass ratio, with the effect decreasing with increasing proportion of the heterocycle. The order of synergism of lambda‐cyhalothrin was; precocene I > PBO > the nitrogenous compounds, in both resistant and susceptible strains. On the other hand, caffeine (lethal effect increased about twice), barbital (about twice), isobarbituric acid (less than twice) and bromacil (up to eight times) synergised malathion in malathion‐resistant strains and antagonised in the susceptible strains. Total in‐vivo esterases, carbox‐ylesterases and cytochrome P450 of susceptible and resistant strains showed significantly increased activity or content when treated with either insecticide plus a heterocyclic compound. Exceptions were with bromacil and malathion and for the malathion‐specific strain, Kano‐C with malathion and the N‐heterocycles.