Indoxacarb

Indoxacarb is an oxadiazine pesticide developed by DuPont that acts against lepidopteran larvae. It is marketed under the names Indoxacarb Technical Insecticide, Steward Insecticide and Avaunt Insecticide. It is also used as the active ingredient in the Syngenta line of commercial pesticides: Advion and Arilon.

Its main mode of action is via blocking of neuronal sodium channels. It is fairly lipophilic with a Kow of 4.65. This pesticide should be used with caution since some insects such as the oriental tobacco budworm (Helicoverpa assulta) become resistant when exposed.

In 2021, the European Union chose not to renew Indoxacarb for use as an insecticide. The United Kingdom still allows use of the compound until 2025.

Development
Indoxacarb was developed by the McCann et al. team at E. I. du Pont de Nemours.

Household products
Indoxacarb is the active ingredient in a number of household insecticides, including cockroach and ant baits, and can remain active after digestion. In 2012 DuPont's Professional Products including the line of Advion and Arilon products was purchased by Syngenta. Indoxacarb is the active ingredient in the pet product, Activyl, from Merck Animal Health. It is marketed to kill fleas on dogs and cats.

Toxicity to humans
While toxicity to humans has not been formally studied, there is a reported case of a person consuming indoxacarb in a suicide attempt. The patient developed methemoglobinemia following ingestion. Methemoglobinemia (also known as blue baby syndrome) is a condition which ultimately decreases the effectiveness of red blood cells to exchange oxygen with organs. Methemoglobinemia can be fatal if left untreated, however when the cause is exposure to a chemical agent (not genetic) a variety of treatments are available and effective.