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EXTOXNET PIP - IMIDACLOPRID 'r.I Pagel of 4 � EXTOXNET Extension Toxicology Network Pesticide Information Profiles A Pesticide Information Project of Cooperative Extension Offices of Cornell University, Oregon State University, the University of Idaho, and the University of California at Davis and the Institute for Environmental Toxicology,Michigan State University. Major support and funding was provided by the USDA/Extension Service/National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program. EXTOXNET primary files maintained and archived at Oregon State University IMIDACLOPRID TRADE OR OTHER NAMES: Imidacloprid is found in a variety of commercial insecticides. The products Admire, Condifor, Gaucho, Premier, Premise, Provado, and Marathon all contain imidacloprid as the active ingredient(223). REGULATORY STATUS: Imidacloprid is a General Use Pesticide, and is classified by EPA as both a toxicity class II and class III agent, and must be labeled with the signal word "Warning" or"Caution" (223). There are tolerances for residues of imidacloprid and its metabolites on food/feed additives ranging from 0.02 ppm in eggs,to 3.0 ppm in hops (328). INTRODUCTION: Imidacloprid is a systemic, chloro-nicotinyl insecticide with soil, seed and foliar uses for the control of sucking insects including rice hoppers, aphids, thrips, whiteflies, termites,turf insects, soil insects and some beetles. It is most commonly used on rice, cereal, maize, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, fait, cotton, hops and turf, and is especially systemic when used as a seed or soil treatment. The chemical works by interfering with the transmission of stimuli in the insect nervous system. Specifically, it causes a blockage in a type of neuronal pathway (nicotinergic)that is more abundant in insects than m warm-blooded animals (making the chemical selectively more toxic to insects than warm-blooded animals). This blockage leads to the accumulation of acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter, resulting in the insect's paralysis, and eventually death. It is effective on contact and via stomach action(1). Imidacloprid based insecticide formu-lations are available as dustable powder, granular, seed dressing (flowable slurry concentrate), soluble concentrate, suspension concentrate, and wettable powder (223). Typical application rates range from 0.05 - 0.125 pounds/acre. These application rates are considerably lower than older, traditionally used insecticides. It can be phytotoxic if it is not used according to manufacturer's specifications, and has been shown to be compatible with fungicides when used as a seed treatment to control insect pests (329). TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS . Acute Toxicity: Imidacloprid is moderately toxic. The oral dose of technical grade imidacloprid that resulted in mortality to half of the test animals (LD50) is 450 mg/kg body weight in rats (223), and 131 mg/kg in mice(1). The 24-hour dermal LD50 in rats is>5,000 mg/kg. It is considered non-irritating to eyes and skin(rabbits), and non- sensitizing to skin(guinea pigs) (1). Some granular formulations may contain clays as inert ingredients that may act as eye irritants. In acute inhalation toxicity tests with rats, the airborne concentration of imidacloprid that resulted in mortality to half of the test organisms (LC50) is> 69 mg/meters cubed air in the form of an aerosol, and>5323 http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/imidaclo.htm d 12/20/2006