Biological activity of flucycloxuron, a novel benzoylphenylurea derivative, on Tenebrio molitor: comparison with diflubenzuron and triflumuron.

Flucycloxuron, a novel benzoylphenylurea (BPU) derivative, exhibited insecticidal activity when injected into newly ecdysed pupae of Tenebrio molitor. Mortality occurs because of defective adult ecdysis. Treatment caused a reduction in both cuticle thickness and incorporation ofC-labelled precursor into chitin, although it had no significant effect on the protein synthesis. The potencies of other BPU compounds as inhibitors of chitin biosynthesis have been examined and results showed that diflubenzuron was less effective than either flucycloxuron or triflumuron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]