Insecticide rays a notable discovery

Press, 23 January 1988, Page 36

Insecticide rays a notable discovery

by

ANDREW STERN

NZPA-Reuter Chicago

Scientists have announced what they call a major breakthrough in the battle against bugs — an insecticide that turns sunlight into a death ray. The insecticide, developed by researchers at the University of Illinois, employs a simple amino acid that its designers hope will be harmless to man and animals, and biodegradable as well. Its potential targets range from houseflies and cockroaches to agricultural pests. Years of spraying toxic pesticides on gardens and farms is feared to have contaminated groundwater supplies in thousands of communities around the world and may have increased the incidence of cancer and other diseases. The discovery announced by the Illinois scientists employs an amino acid — delta-aminole-

vulinic acid — that triggers a buildup of biochemicals, naturally occurring chemicals, in the cells of the insects.

When exposed to sunlight, the overbalance of biochemicals begins a chain reaction that destroys insect cell membranes; causing the bug to suffer convulsions and die within seconds. One of the researchers, Constantin Rebeiz, called the discovery a major breakthrough in man’s historic battle against insects.

He said it was important for several reasons. It is non-toxic to mammals, it can be used against specific pests, and insects may not be able to develop a resistance to it as they have to scores of other insecticides. “This is a mode of action that is absolutely novel. Most insecticides work either on the stomach or the nervous system and are very limited,”

Rebeiz told Reuters. “The discovery will lead to the invention of hundreds of hundreds of insecticides," he added.

Four years ago, the same group developed a “laser herbicide” that reacts similarly with sunlight to kill weeds.

The new insecticides can be sprayed or used with a bait to be ingested by specific insects.

Cockroaches that dwell in unlit basements and kitchen cabinets may still be targets for the product because the insecticide will generate other toxic chemicals in the bugs’ bloodstream.

The French herbicide manufacturer Roussel Uclaf, a unit of the West German chemical firm Hoechst A.G., has received a licence to distribute the laser herbicide and is helping to finance development of the new insecticide.