Effectiveness of Fluorine Compounds as Food Poisons for the Firebrat1

Abstract
The effects of NaF, Na2SiF8, BaSiF6 and NasAlF. on adult Thermobia domestica were studied. Each compound was made available to the insects at 4. 8 and 12% concns. in a food consisting of rolled oats. NaCl and sucrose. Median lethal times at all concns. followed the order: NaF < Na2SiF8 < BaSiF6 < Na3AlFe. All these concns. produced 100% mortality: NaF, NaiSiFo and BaSiF8 in about the same time, and NasAlFs in a somewhat longer time. NaF killed 27 to 53% in 24 hours, the other compounds only a few insects in this period. Expts. made on the 12% concns. in which the bait was taken away from the insects after 24 hrs. indicated that the delayed mortalities with the 2 fluosilicates resulted from their slower lethal action, while that of Na3AlF6 is probably due either to repellence or to high lethal dosage.

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