Table 3.
Active ingredients used in contact insecticide products for fire ant control.
| Active Ingredient | Type | Mode of Action |
|---|---|---|
| Pyrethrins | Natural compound in Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium | Interfere with sodium channel gating |
| d-Limonene | Natural compound in oil of citrus fruit peels | Not clearly understood, most likely with multiple effects |
| Rotenone | Natural compound in seeds and stems of several plants | Interfere with the electron transport chain in mitochondria |
| Spinosad | Natural compounds in bacterium Saccharopolyspora spinosa | Disrupt acetylcholine neurotransmission |
| Clove oil | Natural essential oil | Not clearly understood, most likely with multiple effects |
| Cotton seed oil | Natural essential oil | Not clearly understood, most likely with multiple effects |
| Lemongrass oil | Natural essential oil | Not clearly understood, most likely with multiple effects |
| Peppermint oil | Natural essential oil | Not clearly understood, most likely with multiple effects |
| Pine oil | Natural essential oil | Not clearly understood, most likely with multiple effects |
| Rosemary oil | Natural essential oil | Not clearly understood, most likely with multiple effects |
| Turpentine | Natural essential oil | Not clearly understood, most likely with multiple effects |
| Carbaryl | Synthetic carbamate | Inhibit acetylcholinesterase |
| Imidacloprid | Synthetic neonicotinoid | Bind to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and trigger cell responses |
| Acephate | Synthetic organophosphates | Inhibit acetylcholinesterase |
| Fipronil | Synthetic phenylpyrazole | Block GABA-gated chloride channels and glutamate-gated chloride channels |
| Allethrin | Synthetic pyrethroid | Interfere with sodium channel gating |
| beta-Cyfluthrin | Synthetic pyrethroid | Interfere with sodium channel gating |
| Bifenthrin | Synthetic pyrethroid | Interfere with sodium channel gating |
| Cypermethrin | Synthetic pyrethroid | Interfere with sodium channel gating |
| Deltamethrin | Synthetic pyrethroid | Interfere with sodium channel gating |
| es-Fenvalerate | Synthetic pyrethroid | Interfere with sodium channel gating |
| Fenvalerate | Synthetic pyrethroid | Interfere with sodium channel gating |
| Fluvalinate | Synthetic pyrethroid | Interfere with sodium channel gating |
| Lambda-Cyhalothrin | Synthetic pyrethroid | Interfere with sodium channel gating |
| Permethrin | Synthetic pyrethroid | Interfere with sodium channel gating |
| Resmethrin | Synthetic pyrethroid | Interfere with sodium channel gating |
| s-Bioallethrin | Synthetic pyrethroid | Interfere with sodium channel gating |
| Sumethrin | Synthetic pyrethroid | Interfere with sodium channel gating |
| Tefluthrin | Synthetic pyrethroid | Interfere with sodium channel gating |
| Tetramethrin | Synthetic pyrethroid | Interfere with sodium channel gating |
| Tralomethrin | Synthetic pyrethroid | Interfere with sodium channel gating |