Diflubenzuron

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Cat Number

API35367385

CAS Number

35367-38-5

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CAS Number

35367-38-5

EINECS

252-529-3

Molecular Formula

C14H9ClF2N2O2

Molecular Weight

310.68

Smiles

C(NC(NC1=CC=C(Cl)C=C1)=O)(=O)C1=C(F)C=CC=C1F

Appearance

White to off-white solid

Melting Point

230 - 232 ℃

Boiling Point

257 ℃

Relative Density

1.43

Standard

In house

General Description

Diflubenzuron is a benzoylurea derivative, which acts as an effective insect growth regulator (IGR). Due to diflubenzuron's selectivity and low toxicity to mammals and beneficial adults, it is used in IPM programs.

Mechanism of Action

Diflubenzuron inhibits chitin synthase, which catalyzes the polymerization of N-acetylglucosamine units to form chitin, in insects. This occurs during ecdysis, or molting, in larvae. Without the ability to synthesize a functional endocuticle, insects cannot moult successfully or support their internal organs, and they die. The target site of action is highly selective for pest larvae, because the synthesis of chitin does not occur in vertebrates.

Application

Diflubenzuron is applied to crop and forest pest control to combat foliage-eating larvae. Diflubenzuron is widely used in livestock feeds as a feed-through larvalicide for cattle and horses to control the development of manure-breeding flies. It is also used for the control of parasitic copepods (sea lice) on farmed fish.

Genomic and proteomic tools were used to characterize the response of the insect growth regulator Diflubenzuron (DFB) to Tribolium castaneum. The compound added to food causes insects to molt unsuccessfully, prevents eggs from hatching, and causes a 30% decrease in chitin. In addition, the disorganization of the procuticle lamellae was observed under an electron microscope. Examination of global transcriptional responses using genomic tile arrays showed that 6% of the 11,000 predicted genes were ≥2-fold differentially regulated. Transcripts encoding cuticle proteins as well as detoxification enzymes are altered, but genes involved in chitin metabolism are not. Two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis of midgut proteins identified 388 protein spots, 7% of which showed significant changes in abundance. Mass spectrometry verified that UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase and glutathione synthetase are up-regulated.
These results integrate scattered observations made about DFB over many years into one comprehensive analysis, show that insect depletion of chitin after DFB treatment is post-transcriptional, and confirm that T. castaneum is an excellent tool for analyzing the global molecular response to benzoylphenyl urea insecticides.

Fig. 1 Effects of Diflubenzuron in the model beetle species. (Merzendorfer H.; et al. 2012)

References

Merzendorfer H.; et al. Chaudhari S S, et al. Genomic and proteomic studies on the effects of the insect growth regulator diflubenzuron in the model beetle species Tribolium castaneum. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2012, 42(4): 264-276.

PEG-400 nanoparticles loaded with Diflubenzuron (DFB@NPs) were prepared and their performance was assessed on Helicoverpa armigera. Nanocapsules with a spherical shape, diameter of 80 ± 20 nm, and entrapment efficiency of 62.9% were obtained without using organic solvent.
Release study revealed that 90% of the active ingredient was released in 120 h, and photodegradation assay under UV light irradiation displayed a significantly reduced photodegradation rate compared with the unformulated pesticide. The acute toxicity assessment using second-instar larvae and eggs revealed that the LC50 values of DFB@NPs were significantly lower than those of diflubenzuron. Residual study on tomato leaves showed nanoformulation deposits decrease rapidly and lower than the maximum residue limits in three weeks. Field persistence studies indicated that nanoformulation has a prolonged larvicidal efficacy for 30 days.

Fig. 2 Preparation of Diflubenzuron-loaded polyethylene glycol nanoparticles. (Saber M.; et al. 2025)

References

Saber M.; et al. Encapsulation of diflubenzuron in PEG-400 nanoparticles and evaluation pesticide activity against Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Scientific Reports, 2025, 15(1): 30966.

How is Diflubenzuron different from other insecticides?

Diflubenzuron is actually an insect growth regulator. It doesn't attack the nervous system like other insecticides. It prevents larvae from molting.

Will Diflubenzuron kill adult insects?

It primarily targets the larval stage.

Can Diflubenzuron be used for mosquito control?

Yes. Since Diflubenzuron works even at low concentrations, it can be used in standing water to kill mosquito larvae before they become adults.

How should Diflubenzuron be stored?

Keep the container tightly closed in a cool, dry place out of sunlight and below freezing temperatures.