Effect of temperature on the toxicities of ten pyrethroids to German cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae).

Of 10 pyrethroids tested by topical application of male German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.), d-phenothrin was the least toxic at 19, 26, or 31 degrees C. lambda-cyhalothrin was most toxic. Pyrethroids with the alpha-cyano moiety (fluvalinate, fenvalerate, cypermethrin, esfenvalerate, tralomethrin, cyfluthrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin) were more toxic than those without this functional group (d-phenothrin, resmethrin, and permethrin). At LC50, toxicity was negatively related to temperature. Temperature-toxicity responses of five of seven alpha-cyano pyrethroids were parallel, possibly indicating qualitatively identical but quantitatively different levels of detoxification enzymes.