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Flufenoxuron is an insecticide for control of mites. It has a low aqueous solubility, is non-volatile and is not expected to leach to groundwater. It is moderately persistent in soils but will degrade quickly in aquatic systems in the presence of sunlight. Whilst it has a low mammalian toxicity it does have a high potential to bioaccumulate. It is a know respiratory tract irritant but no other significant human health issues have been identified. It is highly toxic to most aquatic organisms and moderately toxic to birds, honeybees and earthworms.

Flufenoxuron is an known insecticide and acts as an insect growth regulator by inhibiting chitin synthesis.

Flufenoxuron is used for the control of many phytophagous mites (Aculus, Brevipalpus, Pananychus, Phyllocoptuuta, Tetuanychus, spp) and insect pests on pome fruit, vines, citrus, tea, cotton, maize, vegetables and ornamentals. It is also used as a public hygiene insecticide.

ChEBI: Flufenoxuron is a benzoylurea insecticide, a member of monochlorobenzenes, a member of (trifluoromethyl)benzenes, a member of monofluorobenzenes and a difluorobenzene. It has a role as a mite growth regulator. It derives from a diphenyl ether.

Flufenoxuron is commercially synthesised through a multi-step process involving the construction of its complex fluorinated aromatic structure. The synthesis begins with the preparation of key intermediates such as 2,6-difluorobenzamide and a substituted phenoxyfluorophenyl isocyanate. These components are coupled via a carbamoylation reaction to form the urea linkage central to flufenoxuron’s structure. The process is carried out in organic solvents under controlled temperature and pH conditions to ensure high yield and purity.

Information on the metabolism of flufenoxuron is avilable in a Pesticides Safety Directorate review of its use as a public hygiene insecticide (PSD).

4°C, protect from light

The DT₅₀ of flufenoxuron (25 °C) was 267 days at pH 7,206 days at pH 5 and 36.7 days at pH 9 (PM).
Flufenoxuron underwent photodegradation to form 2,6-difluorobenzamide (2), the urea derivative 3 and the 4-aminodiphenyl ether 4 in aqueous solution under natural sunlight in the UK (PSD, 1995).

Flufenoxuron acts in a similar manner to diflubenzuron, reducing chitin incorporation in the cuticJe (Clarke and Jewess 1990). It has cuticular and stomach action. It has ovo-Iarvicidal activity. Treated adults lay non-viable eggs (Tomlin 1995).?

Insecticide; Acaricide