Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Activation of Pyrethrins in Fly-Sprays

Abstract

MOST mosquito- and fly-control sprays contain pyrethrins, so that, during the present shortage, methods of economizing pyrethrins are of considerable importance. One accepted method of effecting an economy is to add to the spray a small proportion (usually less than 5 per cent) of a material which although not insecticidal in itself yet has the property of making the pyrethrin spray a great deal more oeffective. Such non-toxic additions are commonly called adjuvants or activators; for example, iso-butylundecylenamide1 and sesame oil2. So far as we are aware, this phenomenon of activation has never been explained, and indeed certain observers have experienced difficulty in demonstrating its existence.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Weed, A., Soap, 14, No. 6, 133 (1938).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Eagleson, C., Soap, 18, No. 12, 125 (1942).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Haller, La Forge and Sullivan, J. Econ. Ent., 35, 247 (1942).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

DAVID, W., BRACEY, P. Activation of Pyrethrins in Fly-Sprays. Nature 153, 594–595 (1944). https://doi.org/10.1038/153594a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/153594a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing