Army worm, southern

Highly toxic substances, such as cyanides, are sometimes feeding cues and stimulants for specialized insects. For example, instar larvae of the southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania) strongly prefer cyanogenic foods, such as foliage of the lima bean, a plant with comparatively elevated cyanide content — up to 31 mg/kg in some varieties — in the form of linamurin (Brattsten et al. 1983). Feeding was stimulated in southern army worms at dietary levels up to 508 mg KCN/kg... 

Experimental studies with southern armyworm larvae and thiocyanate — one of the in vivo cyanide metabolites — showed that 5000 mg thiocyanate/kg diet reduced pupation by 77%, completely inhibited oviposition, and reduced adult emergence by 80% (Brattsten et al. 1983), strongly suggesting that thiocyanate poisoning is the primary effect of high dietary cyanide levels in southern army worms. 

Epoxide rings of alkene and arene compounds are hydrated to form trans-diols. The enzymes that catalyze the addition of a molecule of water to an epoxide ring to yield diols are called epoxide hydrolases (also known as epoxide hydrases). Epoxide hydrolase activity has been detected in numerous species of insects. Enzymatic epoxide hydration of certain cyclodiene insecticides and their analogs has been demonstrated in the housefly, blowfly (Calliphora erythrocephala), yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), Madagascar cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa), southern army worm (Spodoptera eridania), and red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum). Epoxide hydrolase is also important in the metabolism of juvenile... 

Avermectin Analogues Brine shrimp ICjoo (ng/ml) Two-spotted spider mite assay EC90 (ppm) Southern army worm assay EC90 (ppm)... 

Resistant species, such as southern army-worms, require injected doses up to 800.0 mg... 

Grijfonia simplicifolia proved to be highly toxic to the larvae of southern army worms in artificial diets 0 normal adults were produced by the insects fed the diets with this compound as compared with control values of about 20 (Rehr et al., 1973b Rosenthal, 1982). 

Nakatani, M., J. C. James, and K. Nakaniski, Isolation and structures of trichilins, antifeedants against the southern army worm, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 103, 1228-1230 (1981). 

Fig. 7.4 Relative larval growth rate (RGR SE) of penultimate instar southern army-worm, Spodoptera eridania, on various legumes and alfalfa cultivars as a function of leaf water content (r = 0.51, az = 15).

Structure Activity Relationship. For convenience, 1,2-diacyl-l-alkyl-hydrazine has been dissected into three regions, namely R region, A region, and B region, as shown in Tables III to VII. In each Table, RH-5849 shows 100 % control in the foliar application against southern army worm (Spodoptera eridania) at 600 ppm within 96 hours. In the soil application, 8 ppm of RH-5849 gave 100 % control of the same species after 48 hours. RH-5849 has been included in each Table for comparison purposes. 

Nakatani M, James J C, Nakanishi K 1981 Isolation and structures of trichilins, antifeedants against southern army worms. J Am Chem Soc 103 1228-1230... 

The fluoro analogs, however, had somewhat reduced biological activities. On the other hand, 4"-epi-hydroxy, oxo, cyano, even deoxy, and particularly methyl analogs have good activities in die twospotted spider mite and southern armyworm assays. One also often observes with a minor modification a shift in spectrum, as seen with the southern army worm activities of the two epimeric 4"-methyl derivatives (EC q = 0.5 and 8.0 ppm, respectively). 

Nakatani, M., j. C. James, K. Nakanishi Isolation and Structures of Trichilins, Antifeedants against the Southern Army Worm. J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 103,1228 (1981). 

---