Benzoylureas are chemical derivatives of ''N''-benzoyl-''N′''-phenylurea (benzoylurea). They are best known for their use as

insecticide Insecticides are substances used to kill insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against insect eggs and larvae, respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and by consumers. Insecticides are claimed t ...

s. They act as

insect growth regulator An insect growth regulator (IGR) is a substance (chemical) that inhibits the life cycle of an insect. IGRs are typically used as insecticides to control populations of harmful insect pests such as cockroaches and fleas. Advantages Many IGRs are l ...

s by inhibiting synthesis of

chitin Chitin ( C8 H13 O5 N)n ( ) is a long-chain polymer of ''N''-acetylglucosamine, an amide derivative of glucose. Chitin is probably the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature (behind only cellulose); an estimated 1 billion tons of chit ...

in the insect's body. One of the more commonly used benzoylurea pesticides is diflubenzuron. Others include chlorfluazuron,

flufenoxuron Flufenoxuron is an insecticide that belongs to the benzoylurea chitin synthesis inhibitor group, which also includes diflubenzuron, triflumuron, and lufenuron. Flufenoxuron is a white crystalline powder. It is insoluble in water, is not flammab ...

, hexaflumuron, and triflumuron.

Lufenuron Lufenuron is the active ingredient in the veterinary flea control medication Program, and one of the two active ingredients in the flea, heartworm, ringworm and anthelmintic medicine milbemycin oxime/lufenuron (Sentinel). Lufenuron is stored in ...

is the active compound in

flea Flea, the common name for the order Siphonaptera, includes 2,500 species of small flightless insects that live as external parasites of mammals and birds. Fleas live by ingesting the blood of their hosts. Adult fleas grow to about long, ...

control medication for pet dogs and cats. 3-(Iodoacetamido)-benzoylurea (3-IAABU) is one of several benzoylurea compounds which have been investigated as potential

anticancer agents Chemotherapy (often abbreviated to chemo and sometimes CTX or CTx) is a type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs (chemotherapeutic agents or alkylating agents) as part of a standardized chemotherapy regimen. Chemotherap ...

Environmental toxicity

When applied in a dispersed way, for example through fumigation or spraying, these chemicals have an effect against a wide range of insect species, some of which may be beneficial to human activities, including crop-pollinators such as bees. In addition, as with many insecticides, application may result in the killing of natural predators or controls along with the pest, risking the possibility of a '

rebound effect The rebound effect, or rebound phenomenon, is the emergence or re-emergence of symptoms that were either absent or controlled while taking a medication, but appear when that same medication is discontinued, or reduced in dosage. In the case of re ...

' or pest resurgence, where the original target for the treatment returns with equal or even greater voracity.

Flufenoxuron Flufenoxuron is an insecticide that belongs to the benzoylurea chitin synthesis inhibitor group, which also includes diflubenzuron, triflumuron, and lufenuron. Flufenoxuron is a white crystalline powder. It is insoluble in water, is not flammab ...

was banned in the European Union in 2011 due to its high potential for

bioaccumulation Bioaccumulation is the gradual accumulation of substances, such as pesticides or other chemicals, in an organism. Bioaccumulation occurs when an organism absorbs a substance at a rate faster than that at which the substance is lost or eliminated ...

in the food chain and high risk to aquatic organisms. Flufenoxuron is marketed as having 'high persistence' in the environment and the product data-sheet states that it does not biodegrade easily.BASF Cascade Product Details
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Environmental toxicity

References

Further reading