The Biological Evaluation of Pyrethroids as Potential Mothproofing Agents

As a consequence of the restrictions imposed on the use of dieldrin, a world-wide effort is being made to find an appropriate successor to protect keratinous materials from textile pests, in particular the larvae of the common clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella H.), the black carpet beetle (Attagenus piceus Oliv.) and the furniture carpet beetle (Anthrenus vorax Waterh.) Extensive investigations of permethrin (NRDC 143, FMC 33297, chemical name: 3phenoxybenzyl-(±) c\s, trans-2-(2′,2′-dichlorovinyl)-3,3-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate) have led to the marketing of this pyrethroid. The present paper evaluates different classes of 2-substituted 3,3-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylates for their mothproofing efficacy. It has been found that the pyrethroids offer good protection against larval damage by the common clothes moth but as a general rule, are less effective in their activity to the Anthrenus species, a textile pest that is acquiring increasing importance as a major source of damage. This disadvantage is found even in otherwise highly active pyrethroids such as permethrin and deltamethrin. Cypermethrin was found to offer slightly better protection than permethrin against larval damage by Attagenus piceus.