Preliminary Report on the Fluorine Compounds as Insecticides

Abstract

F compounds were specific for tobacco flea beetles (Epitrix parvula and E. cucumeris), eggplant flea beetle (E. fuscula) and the Mexican bean beetle (Epilachna corrupta). Natural cryolite was 2-2.5 times as effective as Mg arsenate against E. corrupta but its toxicity was decreased by lime. The honey bee was found to be an excellent indicator of stomach poisons and showed that toxicity depends upon solubility and that in the F compounds it is closely correlated with the amount of F present and available in the compound. A table of various compounds and their toxicities is given.