The toxicity of Cyperus rotundus rhizome steam distillate constituents and their related compounds to adult females and males of the susceptible KS-BG strain and field-collected SR-BG and DR-BG colonies of Blattella germanica (L.) was examined using residual contact + fumigant and vapor-phase mortality bioassays. Results were compared with those of three organophosphorus (chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, and fenitrothion), three carbamate (bendiocarb, dioxacarb, and propoxur), and three pyrethroid insecticides (bifenthrin, cypermethrin, and deltamethrin). In contact + fumigant mortality bioassay, p-cymene (LC50, 0.33 mg/cm2) was the most toxic terpenoid, followed by o-cymene, m-cymene, β-pinene, 1,8-cineole, and α-pinene, (LC50, 0.44–0.92 mg/cm2) against female B. germanica. These terpenoids were less toxic than the insecticides tested. Females were 3.1–3.6 times more tolerant than males to three cymene compounds. The toxicity of these monoterpenoids were almost identical against females from either of the three strains, even though the SR-BG and DR-BG females exhibited resistance to bifenthrin [resistance ratio (RR), 96 and 17], cypermethrin (RR, 67), deltamethrin (97 and 66), dioxacarb (19 and 22), and propoxur (24 and 32). In vapor-phase mortality bioassay, these monoterpenoids were effective in closed but not in open containers, indicating that the effect of these compounds was largely a result of vapor action. C. rotundus rhizome steam distillate and its constituents merit further study as potential insecticides for the control of insecticide-resistant B. germanica populations as fumigants with contact action.

• Kyu-Sik Chang(National Institute of Health, Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
• E-Hyun Shin(National Institute of Health, Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Chan Park(National Institute of Health, Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Young-Joon Ahn(WCU Biomodulation Major, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University)