Pest control operators who need a botanical, FIFRA 25(b) exempt solution now have a new option: Essentria IC3 from Envincio (formerly Prentiss). This new formulation features Octopamine Blocker™ technology for quick knockdown that is equal to synthetic pesticides, and is ideal for general pest control, including bed bugs.

“Essentria IC3 provides the ideal combination of the safety profile of a botanical, with performance that equals synthetic options and improved flexibility. It truly is the best of both worlds,” says Mike Tweedy, vice president of sales for Envincio. “Perhaps just as importantly, Essentria IC3 is the result of us listening to our customers and responding to make a good product even better.”

The new product contains an adjuvant package that makes mixing and application more convenient, with no need for additional adjuvants. Essentria IC3 also contains a fragrance modifier to reduce odor concerns.

Essentria IC3 provides knock-down of a wide range of flying and crawling insects that is at least equal to standard synthetic pesticides.

Envincio provides pest control professionals with a broad portfolio of solutions, including FIFRA 25(b) exempt botanicals, full synthetic options, and customized solutions for specific pest control challenges. Envincio develops, manufactures, registers and markets pest control solutions for use in a wide range of sites, including professional, household, janitorial-sanitation, farm hygiene, animal health and vector control.

A study was conducted to determine the insecticidal activity and mechanism of action of three essential oils (eugenol, alpha-terpineol and cinnamic alcohol) and an equal part mixture (3-blend) against American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana). To address species differences in response to treatment with the test oils, Carpenter ants (Camponotus pennsylvanicus De Geer), and German cockroaches (Blattella germanica) were included in this study. Exposed American cockroaches demonstrated hyperactivity followed by hyperextension of the legs and abdomen, then fast knockdown or quick immobilization followed by death. Ants and German cockroaches showed fast immobilization/knockdown followed by mortality. The 1:1:1 mixture (3-blend) was substantially effective against all test insects. One of the most remarkable observations was the increased frequency of heartbeats of American cockroaches in response to topical application of test oils. The changes in the pattern of cAMP level was biphasic. A significant increase in the cAMP level was found in response to 1 nmol/ml of eugenol, or 3-blend or 10 nmol/ml of alpha-terpineol. At higher concentrations a significant decrease in cAMP level was found. Blockage of octopamine receptors binding sites was also illustrated at lower concentrations of the test chemicals as judged by the decreased binding activity of [3H]octopamine to its receptors. In conclusion: (1) test oils are neuro-insecticides and their insecticidal activity is species-dependent; (2) a synergistic effect of the three oils was found when they were equally mixed (3-blend); and (3) the octpaminergic system mediates the insecticidal activity of eugenol, alpha-terpienol and the 3-blend.

Vanderbilt University, School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, 640 Light Hall, Nashville, TN 37232-0146, USA. eenan@toxicology.mc.vanderbilt.edu

Abstract: As a result of screening a large number of essential oils from Israeli aromatic plants and their biologically active constituents, we isolated two oils with high activity against several stored-product insects. In this study the effect of these compounds on the acetylcholinesterase and the octopamine systems in insects was studied in order to elucidate their mode of action. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity in vitro was evident only at high concentrations (10-3M) and could not account effectively for the low-dose mortality for some stored-product insects observed in vivo. However, the essential oil constituents were found to cause a significant increase in the levels of the intracellular messenger, cyclic AMP of abdominal epidermal tissue in the model insect, Helicoverpa armigera Hu¨ bn. The effect was significant even at low, physiological concentrations (10-8M) when tested directly on abdominal epidermal tissue preparations in vitro. This intracellular response was found to resemble closely the significant increases in the levels of the cyclic AMP of abdominal epidermal tissue due to treatment with the neurotransmitter/neuromodulator, octopamine. Subsequent treatment with the octopaminergic antagonist, phentolamine, effectively inhibited the cyclic AMP levels induced by essential oil treatment, indicating possible competitive activation of octopaminergic receptors by essential oil constituents.

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