Acephate
Encyclopedia
Acephate is an organophosphate
foliar insecticide
of moderate persistence with residual systemic activity of about 10-15 days at the recommended use rate. It is used primarily for control of aphid
s, including resistant species, in vegetables (e.g. potatoes, carrots, greenhouse tomatoes, and lettuce) and in horticulture (e.g. on rose
s and greenhouse
ornamentals). It also controls leaf miner
s, caterpillar
s, sawflies and thrips
in the previously stated crops as well as turf
, and forestry
. By direct application to mounds, it is effective in destroying imported fire ants.
Acephate is sold as a soluble powder, as emulsifiable concentrates, as pressurized aerosol, and in tree injection systems and granular formulations.
, are toxic to Heliothis
spp. that are considered resistant to other organophosphate insecticides. Acephate emits toxic fumes of phosphorus
, nitrogen
, and sulfur
oxides when heated to decomposition. Symptoms of exposure to acephate include a slight irritation of eyes and skin.
The U.S. annually uses 4–5 million pounds of acephate. However, even in small quantities, acephate throws off the navigation systems of white-throated sparrow
s and other songbirds, making them unable to tell north from south.
- U.S. EPA Office of Pesticide Programs.
- Extension Toxicology Network. Pesticide Information Profiles.
- Cooperative Extension Offices of Cornell University, Oregon State University, the University of Idaho, and the University of California at Davis.
- Institute for Environmental Toxicology, Michigan State University.
Organophosphate
An organophosphate is the general name for esters of phosphoric acid. Phosphates are probably the most pervasive organophosphorus compounds. Many of the most important biochemicals are organophosphates, including DNA and RNA as well as many cofactors that are essential for life...
foliar insecticide
Insecticide
An insecticide is a pesticide used against insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against the eggs and larvae of insects respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and the household. The use of insecticides is believed to be one of the major factors behind...
of moderate persistence with residual systemic activity of about 10-15 days at the recommended use rate. It is used primarily for control of aphid
Aphid
Aphids, also known as plant lice and in Britain and the Commonwealth as greenflies, blackflies or whiteflies, are small sap sucking insects, and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Aphids are among the most destructive insect pests on cultivated plants in temperate regions...
s, including resistant species, in vegetables (e.g. potatoes, carrots, greenhouse tomatoes, and lettuce) and in horticulture (e.g. on rose
Rose
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
s and greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
ornamentals). It also controls leaf miner
Leaf miner
Leaf miner is a term used to describe the larvae of many different species of insect which live in and eat the leaf tissue of plants. The vast majority of leaf-mining insects are moths , sawflies and flies , though some beetles and wasps also exhibit this behavior.Like Woodboring beetles, leaf...
s, caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
s, sawflies and thrips
Thrips
Thrips are tiny, slender insects with fringed wings . Other common names for thrips include thunderflies, thunderbugs, storm flies, thunderblights, and corn lice...
in the previously stated crops as well as turf
Sod
Sod or turf is grass and the part of the soil beneath it held together by the roots, or a piece of thin material.The term sod may be used to mean turf grown and cut specifically for the establishment of lawns...
, and forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
. By direct application to mounds, it is effective in destroying imported fire ants.
Acephate is sold as a soluble powder, as emulsifiable concentrates, as pressurized aerosol, and in tree injection systems and granular formulations.
Toxicology
It is considered non-phytotoxic on many crop plants. Acephate and its primary metabolite, methamidophosMethamidophos
Methamidophos is an organophosphate insecticide.Crops grown with the use of methamidophos include some Latin American rice. Many nations use methamidophos on crops, including developed nations such as Spain, US, Japan, and Australia...
, are toxic to Heliothis
Heliothis
Heliothis is a genus of moths, whose larvae are agricultural pests on crop species such as tobacco, cotton, soybean and pigeon pea. Several of the species formerly placed in this genus are now in the genus Helicoverpa.-Species:...
spp. that are considered resistant to other organophosphate insecticides. Acephate emits toxic fumes of phosphorus
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is the chemical element that has the symbol P and atomic number 15. A multivalent nonmetal of the nitrogen group, phosphorus as a mineral is almost always present in its maximally oxidized state, as inorganic phosphate rocks...
, nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is a chemical element that has the symbol N, atomic number of 7 and atomic mass 14.00674 u. Elemental nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and mostly inert diatomic gas at standard conditions, constituting 78.08% by volume of Earth's atmosphere...
, and sulfur
Sulfur
Sulfur or sulphur is the chemical element with atomic number 16. In the periodic table it is represented by the symbol S. It is an abundant, multivalent non-metal. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with chemical formula S8. Elemental sulfur is a bright yellow...
oxides when heated to decomposition. Symptoms of exposure to acephate include a slight irritation of eyes and skin.
The U.S. annually uses 4–5 million pounds of acephate. However, even in small quantities, acephate throws off the navigation systems of white-throated sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
The White-throated Sparrow is a passerine bird of the American sparrow family Emberizidae.-Description:The White-throated Sparrow is a passerine bird of the American sparrow family Emberizidae...
s and other songbirds, making them unable to tell north from south.
Further reading
- Acephate General Fact Sheet - National Pesticide Information Center
- Acephate Pesticide Information Profile - Extension Toxicology Network
- EPA Acephate Reregistration Eligibility Decision
Sources
- U.S. EPA Office of Pesticide Programs.
- Extension Toxicology Network. Pesticide Information Profiles.
- Cooperative Extension Offices of Cornell University, Oregon State University, the University of Idaho, and the University of California at Davis.
- Institute for Environmental Toxicology, Michigan State University.