The Metabolism of Phorate, an Organophosphorus Insecticide, in Three Insect Species

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Abstract
The oxidative metabolic pathway of phorate (formerly known as Thimet) (O,O-diethyl S-(ethylthio)methyl phosphorodithioate) was studied in three insect species in vivo. Metabolites were separated by paper chromatography with β-methoxypropionitrile as stationary phase and cyclohexane as moving phase and detected by use of 2,6-dibromo-N-chloro-p-qninoneimine which gives yellow to red colors. The sensitivity is 1 to 5 µg. of phorate or its metabolites. The chief product from phorate applied to the German cockroach (Blattella germanica (L.)), large milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus (Dallas)), and the bug (Rhodnius prolixus Stahl) is the sulfoxide and/or sulfone of phorate. No evidence was obtained indicating importance of a possible secondary pathway involving formation of the oxygen analog of phorate and its two oxidized derivatives in vivo. The latter two compounds are not readily identified on paper chromatograms. The oxygen analog of phorate was very rapidly degraded in vivo.

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