Cyfluthrin (Synonyms: β-Cyfluthrin)

Cyfluthrin is a pyrethroid insecticide and a modulator of voltage-gated sodium channels (Na_v).^1,2 It slowly activates rat recombinant Na_v1.8 channels, delays inactivation by longer than 40 ms, and induces persistent tail currents in channels expressed in X. laevis oocytes.¹ It also decreases the mean burst rate in rat primary neurons (IC₅₀ = 0.99 μM, respectively).² Cyfluthrin is toxic to various insects, including A. melinus, G. ashmeadi, E. eremicus, and E. formosa (LC₅₀s = 7, 67, 96, and 63 ng/ml, respectively) and the A. sinensis mosquito (LC₅₀ = 0.446 ppm).^3,4 It is also toxic to A. mellifera honeybees (LD₅₀ = 0.22 ppm), affecting locomotor activity and wing fanning behavior with an increase in the mean bout duration of time spent upside down, indicating disruption of the righting reflex, and a decrease in wing fanning behavior when administered at a dose of 10 ng/bee.⁵ Formulations containing cyfluthrin have been used for the control of insects in agriculture and for non-commercial purposes.

1.Choi, J.S., and Soderlund, D.M.Structure-activity relationships for the action of 11 pyrethroid insecticides on rat Nav1.8 sodium channels expressed in Xenopus oocytesToxicol. Appl. Pharmacol.211(3)233-244(2006) 2.Baskar, M.K., and Murthy, P.B.In vitro evaluation of pyrethroid-mediated changes on neuronal burst parameters using microelectrode arraysNeuroToxicology57270-281(2016) 3.Prabhaker, N., Morse, J.G., Castle, S.J., et al.Toxicity of seven foliar insecticides to four insect parasitoids attacking citrus and cotton pestsJ. Econ. Entomol.100(4)1053-1061(2007) 4.Chang, K.-S., Yoo, D.-H., Shin, E.-H., et al.Susceptibility and resistance of field populations of Anopheles sinensis (Diptera: Culicidae) collected from Paju to 13 insecticidesOsong Public Health Res. Perspect.4(2)76-80(2013) 5.Oliver, C.J., Softley, S., Williamson, S.M., et al.Pyrethroids and nectar toxins have subtle effects on the motor function, grooming and wing fanning behaviour of honeybees (Apis mellifera)PLoS One10(8):e0133733(2015)