Fenoxycarb is a carbamate insect growth regulator. Fenoxycarb is a yellow granular solid,
broad-spectrum insect growth regulator, and non-neurotoxic carbamate. Fenoxycarb is
almost insoluble in water but soluble and very soluble in hexane, acetone, chloroform,
diethyl ether, and methanol. Fenoxycarb is a general use pesticide (GUP), meaning the
user or the pesticide applicator does not need a licence. It is used to control a wide variety
of insect pests, such as fire ant bait and for flea and mosquito. It is also used for the control
of cockroaches, butterflies, moths, beetles, scale, and sucking insects on olives, vines,
cottons, and fruits. It is also used to control these pests on stored products. As a growth
regulator, fenoxycarb blocks the ability of an insect to change into the adult stage from
the juvenile stage (metamorphosis). Fenoxycarb interferes with larval moulting, the periodic
shedding or moulting of the old exoskeleton, and production of a new exoskeleton.
Although fenoxycarb is a carbamate insecticide, it exhibits no anti-cholinesterase activity
and is thus considered non-neurotoxic. It mimics the action of the juvenile hormones (JHs)
on a number of physiological processes, such as moulting and reproduction in insects.
