Allethrin
Encyclopedia
Pyrethroid
A pyrethroid is an organic compound similar to the natural pyrethrins produced by the flowers of pyrethrums . Pyrethroids now constitute a major commercial household insecticides...
s, a synthetic form of a chemical found naturally in the chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums, often called mums or chrysanths, are of the genus constituting approximately 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae which is native to Asia and northeastern Europe.-Etymology:...
flower. They were first synthesized in the United States by Milton S. Schechter in 1949. Allethrin was the first pyrethroid.
The compounds have low toxicity
Toxicity
Toxicity is the degree to which a substance can damage a living or non-living organisms. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a substructure of the organism, such as a cell or an organ , such as the liver...
for humans and birds, and are used in many household insecticide
Insecticide
An insecticide is a pesticide used against insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against the eggs and larvae of insects respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and the household. The use of insecticides is believed to be one of the major factors behind...
s such as RAID
Raid (insecticide)
Raid is the brand name of a line of insecticides produced by SC Johnson, first launched in 1956.The initial active ingredient was the first synthetic pyrethroid, allethrin...
as well as mosquito coil
Mosquito coil
Mosquito coil is mosquito-repelling incense, usually shaped into a spiral, and typically made from a dried paste of pyrethrum powder. The coil is usually held at the center of the spiral, suspending it in the air, or wedged by two pieces of fireproof nettings to allow continuous smoldering...
s. They are however highly toxic to fish and bees. Insects subject to its exposure become paralyzed (nervous system effect) before dying.
They are also used as an ultra-low volume
Ultra-low volume
The term Ultra-Low Volume is used in the context of pesticide application.Ultra-low volume application of pesticides has been defined as spraying at a of les than 5 L/ha for field crops or les than 50 L/ha for tree/bush crops...
spray for outdoor mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
control.
Stereochemistry
Each allethrin consists of the eight possible stereoisomers. A partly stereoselective variant of allethrin I, consisting of only two stereoisomers, is called bioallethrinBioallethrin
Bioallethrin is an ectoparasiticide. It consists of two of the eight stereosiomers of allethrin I....
.