Phoxim: A Broad-Spectrum Organophosphate Insecticide

Technical Introduction

Phoxim (chemical name: O,O-diethyl O-(α-cyanobenzylideneamino) phosphorothioate) is an organophosphate insecticide widely used for controlling a broad range of pests in agriculture, forestry, and livestock.

Its mode of action is through acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, which disrupts nerve signal transmission in insects, causing overstimulation of the nervous system, paralysis, and eventual death.

Phoxim acts primarily as a contact and stomach poison, but it also has moderate systemic properties in plants and strong residual effects, making it suitable for both foliar and soil applications.

Applications

• Agriculture (Crops):

  • Used on vegetables, cereals, cotton, sugarcane, tobacco, fruit trees, and tea.

  • Controls pests such as aphids, leafhoppers, thrips, caterpillars, stem borers, beetles, and fruit flies.

• Forestry:

  • Effective against pine caterpillars, locusts, and defoliating moths.

• Livestock & Veterinary:

  • Commonly used against flies, lice, ticks, mites, and fleas in animal housing.

  • Available in sprays, dusts, and pour-on formulations for cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry.

• Public Health:

  • Sometimes applied for controlling flies, cockroaches, and other household pests.

Advantages

• Broad-Spectrum Activity: Effective against a wide range of chewing and sucking insects.

• Residual Effect: Provides longer-lasting protection compared to volatile organophosphates like dichlorvos.

• Dual Use: Can be used in both crop protection and livestock pest control.

• Economic Choice: Low-cost solution for pest management in developing regions.

• Alternative to Banned OPs: Still permitted in some countries as a replacement for older, more hazardous organophosphates.

Specifications (Typical Parameters)

FAQ

Q1: What pests does Phoxim control?
A: It controls a wide variety of chewing and sucking insects in crops (aphids, borers, caterpillars, thrips) and external parasites (flies, mites, ticks, lice) in livestock.

Q2: How does Phoxim compare to Dichlorvos or Trichlorfon?

• Dichlorvos (DDVP): Highly volatile, works mainly as a fumigant, short residual effect.

• Trichlorfon: Systemic activity in plants and dewormer use in veterinary medicine.

• Phoxim: Less volatile, longer residual action, stronger in external livestock pest control.

Q3: Can Phoxim be used safely in livestock?
A: Yes, but only under strict veterinary guidance, as overdosing can cause toxicity. It is often used as pour-on, spray, or dust formulations.

Q4: Is Phoxim environmentally safe?
A: Like other organophosphates, it is toxic to aquatic life, birds, and beneficial insects, so careful handling and application are necessary.

Q5: Why is Phoxim restricted in some regions?
A: Due to its organophosphate toxicity, some countries restrict or phase it out in favor of safer alternatives (e.g., spinosad, pyrethroids, or avermectins).