The Absorption, Metabolism, and Excretion of C14-labelled TDE in Certain Insects1

Abstract

Information on absorption, excretion, and metabolism of topical applications of C¹⁴-labelled TDE was obtained for 2 species of lepidopterous larvae and the adult American cockroach, Periplaneta Americana (L.). The tobacco hornworm, Protoparce sexta (Johannson), larva and tile cockroach formed, internally, significant qnantities of 1,1-bis (p-chlorophenyl) 2,2- dichloro ethanol (FW-1.52) whereas the red-banded leaf roller, Argyrotaenia velutinana (Walker), larva degraded only minor amounts of absorbed TDE to FW-152 and several other compounds. Certain analogs of TDE were applied to the hornworm and cockroach to determine whether the analogs are stable or transitory intermediates in the overall metabolic scheme. FW- 152 appeared to be the major end product in both insects. The compound was apparently formed directly from TDE rather than from an unknown intermediate. There was some evidence that p,p'-dichlorobenzophenone (DBP) was present in samples of the excreta of the cockroach at the later time intervals.