title: Lethality of pyrethrins to larvae and postlarvae of the American lobster (Homarus americanus).
abstract: Pesticide formulations containing pyrethrins are being used to treat salmonids for infestations of the copepod parasites Lepeophtherius salmonis and Caligus elongatus (sea lice). The acute lethality of one such formulation to four larval stages of the American lobster (Homarus americanus), a species of significant economic importance in eastern Canada, was determined. The formulation tested contained 0.06% pyrethrins and 0.6% piperonyl butoxide (a synergist). Stage I larvae (48-h LC50 = 4.42 microg/liter) were significantly less sensitive than stage II, III, or IV larvae. Stage II larvae (48-h LC50 = 2.72 microg/liter) were significantly less sensitive than Stage III or IV larvae. Stage III and IV larvae were not significantly different in their response to the pyrethrins formulation (48-h LC50 = 1.39 and 0.73 microg/liter, respectively). Most published studies using lobster larvae have reported that the earliest larval stage was the most sensitive to chemicals. The results described here indicate that the earliest larval stage is the least sensitive to the pyrethrins formulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Biological Station, St. Andrews, New Brunswick, E0G 2X0, Canada.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Burridge
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008121:Nephropidae / Q000187:drug effects*; D010271:Parasites; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D010882:Piperonyl Butoxide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000633:toxicity*; D012487:Salmonidae / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D011722:Pyrethrins; D010882:Piperonyl Butoxide