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Enhanced insecticidal activity of isoparaffin by ozone as an adjuvant

Morimura, Hiroyuki1; Shibata, Hiroshi2; Lirette, Antoine-Olivier1, 3; Yoshida, Eichi2; Kikuchi, Yoshitomo1, 3

Research facility: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Published Jun 09, 2025 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.sxksn03fk

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Abstract

Recently, concerns have been raised regarding control methods for domesticated sanitary pests. For many years, we have relied on chemical pesticides for control, but their negative effects on the human body and increased insecticide resistance have been reported, highlighting the necessity to develop new control technologies. Therefore, we focused on insect respiratory systems, for which it is considered difficult to develop insecticide resistance. In this study, the synergistic effects of isoparaffin and ozone were tested. The insect mortality rates (%) were not significantly different, reaching almost 100 percent when sprayed with SS (spray substance) and SS+O3 (SS containing Ozone). However, death times (minutes) were noticeably different. In cockroach P. fuliginosa, the death times were 10.5 ± 2.6 min. and 1.6 ± 0.5 min. (mean ± SD) for SS and SS+O3, respectively. The Asian tiger mosquito A. albopictus exhibited a death time of 13.5 ± 20.7 min from SS and 1.6 ± 1.4 min from SS+O3. Insects sprayed with SS+O3 died significantly faster, at speeds up to 6 times those observed in SS treatment alone. SEM observation indicated death was caused when the spiracles of the insects were covered with isoparaffin degraded by ozone, resulting in suffocation. From these results, we conclude the combination of isoparaffin and ozone offers a promising new insecticide against pest insects.