The toxicity of imperatorin (1) and osthol (2) identified in Cnidium monnieri seed and four structurally related compounds to third instar larvae of insecticidesusceptible (KS-CP strain) and field-collected (DJ-CP colony) of Culex pipiens pallens was examined. Results were compared with those of to conventional mosquito larvicide, fenitrothion and temephos. Based on 24-h LC50 values, imperatorin was 1.9, 3.7, 4.2, 12.4, and 15.1 times more toxic than isopimpinellin, isoimperatorin, osthole, xanthotoxin, and bergapten against KS-CP larvae, respectively. Overall, these compounds were less toxic than either fenitrothion or temephos. However, these compounds did not differ in toxicity against larvae from the two Culex strains, even though the DJ-CP larvae exhibited high levels of resistance α-cypermethrin, deltamethrin, chlorpyrifos, fenthion, and chlorfenapyr (resistance ratio, 94-1179). This finding indicates that the isolated compounds and the pyrethroid, organophosphorus, and pyrrole insecticides do not share a common mode of action or elicit cross-resistance.

• Zhangqian Wang(Entomology Major, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University)
• Jun-Ran Kim(Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University)
• Mo Wang(Plant Protection Institute, Huazhong Agricultural University, P. R. China)
• Young-Joon Ahn(WCU Biomodulation Major, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University)