Actually, I'm prepearing a PhD in botanical insecticides and I find that these videos are more effecient than textbooks to undesrstand the basics of insect physiology and mode action of insecticides . Good job
This was exactly what I wanted to know to my question, "How does pyrethroid insecticides kill insects?". All other explanations simply said by affecting the nervous system which was not detailed enough in what I wanted to know. Thank you for this video!
Very interesting, we recently had some trees sprayed with bifenthrin to stop some caterpillars destroying the trees. One thing I noticed is that garden skinks also exhibit the same problems with twitching and eventual death. I wish I knew why the MSDS doesn't list reptiles. Would have been good to know, would have saved a lot of lizards. Anyway, thanks for the video - most helpful!
🌈🦋 Sorry to think of one more question-does permethrin act on or do humans have the sodium channels that are affected by the insecticides and does it cause Aa nerve death also in the humans that use it? Thanks again...🙂
the standard bifenthrin in over counter pesticide is very effective dealing with silverfish. Ive had more and more appear in the upstairs bathroom, so I treated the area. They are attracted to the humidity/moisture. Now, if they walk around the baseboards....they stop in their tracks and die instantly.
Some flies were annoying me and I decided to treat them with tetramethrin (a pyrethroid) and piperonyl butoxide. I have observed a strange behaviour: each fly started to rotate on itself very quickly and after a few minutes they became full paralyzed. This intrigued me and I wanted to look for an explanation. This video sounds to me as a very easy to understand lesson since I only attended a basic general chemistry course in my university education. Thank you
Thank you. I try to shoot for an educated public audience that has some chemical/biological background but not necessarily at the professional level. Apparently, I am succeeding :>). Thanks for the message. LK
I have no idea about the aspect of human sperm sensitivity to PIs? My opinion is always to err on the side of caution. Exposure to chemicals known to be toxic to other animals is never a good idea. True the chemical might be more toxic to an insect, but toxicity is a matter of dose-relative to size. It does not take a huge dose to affect a small insect as compared to vertebrate animals which are generally larger. That said, all animals and individuals have differing levels of sensitivities to chemicals. Over-application, or constant low-dose exposure can certainly become problematic. An infrequent, minimal exposure to pyrethrins is not likely a problem with humans, but I, personally, would not stay in a cloud of spray for a long period. I am not a pest control expert. I know the physiological-toxicology implications regarding modes of actions, but I am not qualified to give expert advice on specific uses for pest control purposes. Sorry. Not much help there.
🌈🦋 This makes it very clear how the sodium channel is affected when something goes through it-but I would like to know how does this affect nano particles are they so small that they can just go around the molecules and get in and out whenever they want anyway that’s what I don’t exactly understand and does it mean that every molecule is magnetic including nano particles and are nanoparticles A molecule?Does it really helped the cArry magnets in your pocket so they will explode nanoparticles is this just a rumor? Can you DIY pyrethroid that you can wear to keep insects off of you, and do bug zappers affect the electricity around them so that it challenges the insect life. One more thing are nano particles affected by that zappers? Is that a better alternative than using pyrethroids in the house. Thank you so much for your video, you are very wise and any of these questions answered or another video on it would be so appreciated - thank you.💚🙂
I am not very knowledgeable about nanoparticles. I looked them up on Wikipedia and they are in the range 1-100 nanometers (billionths of a meter) compared with atoms which are in the picometer (trillionths of a meter) range. nanoparticles are 1000 times bigger than atoms. A sodium atom is 186 picometers, so no -- nanoparticles do not get into cells via ion channels for atoms like sodium or potassium. Nanoparticles have to be made of molecules. Everything is made of atoms which also make up molecules and , so, yes nanoparticles are made of molecules, I do not know the nature of the molecules. Read up on them on Wikipedia for more info. As to the magnet thing, I have no idea - my guess is it is a rumor? Bug zappers work by the insect landing on it. When the insect contacts two wires it sets up a short circuit and is killed. To my knowledge there is no electric field around them. I strongly recommend against DIY pyrethroids for people that are not trained in insecticide use. Trying to make a protective barrier around yourself would be a bad idea as whole-body exposure to insecticide could easily result in absorbing toxic doses. The reason insecticides kill insects and not people when used properly is because insects are small and they get a big dose (amount per unit of weight) compared to a human. If humans got the same dose, with most insecticides, it would be toxic to them as well. Insect neurons work similar to vertebrate animal neurons, so things toxic to insects are likely also toxic to vertebrate animals, including people - if they get a big enough dose. For protection against things like mosquitoes, use commercial repellents that are tested for both repellency and safety, if used as directed.
Now I'm not a student of chemistry or entomology I'm simply a curious exterminator trying to learn what exactly these chemicals I'm working with do on a chemical level
I doubt starvation is likely, in the lab, possibly, but unlikely in nature. They likely die first from physiological imbalance. All bodily systems regulated by the nerves would become hyperstimulated and overload, then shut down. I guess starvation is possible and cannot be discounted, but that would take a long time and just lying around paralyzed would make them easy targets for predators like ants.
Pyrethroids are not absorbed via the skin very much, and furthermore they do not bind to the Na channels in mammalians as well as they do in insects. So the toxicity is lower in humans than in insects. Still, should be used with caution (if at all), especially if around cats, since cats cannot metabolize pyrethroids very well so are more susceptible.
