These pyrethroid compounds can act as potent insect control chemicals or enhance the performance of other insect repellents. Pyrethroids are a class of insect repellents prized for their low off-target toxicity and insecticidal properties. Most commercially used pyrethroids are synthetic derivatives of natural pyrethrins that have superior stability in sunlight, which combined with their efficacy against many insect pests, make them ideal for many insect control applications. However, some insect populations, such as the mosquito species that vector malarial disease, have developed resistance to pyrethroid insecticides due to their widespread use.
Researchers at the University of Florida have identified a series of pyrethroid hydrolysis products that unexpectedly have good repellent activity, even against mosquitoes that have resistance to the parent pyrethroid. Additionally, some of these pyrethroid compounds synergize other commercially available insect repellents, increasing their effectiveness.
Pyrethroid acids enhance the repellency and toxicity of other insect repellents and insecticides; in some cases, the mixtures demonstrate greater activity than the parent pyrethroids used in commercial insecticides
Enzymatic hydrolysis of the ester linkage in natural and synthetic pyrethroids results in various pyrethroid acids and alcohols. These component moieties display repellent activity and function as effective insect control chemicals. Additionally, select pyrethroid compounds such as transfluthrin acid (TFA) and trans-chrysanthemic acid can synergize other existing insect repellents to boost toxicity and repellency, combatting pyrethroid resistance.