Spirotetramat

Spirotetramat is a keto-enol insecticide developed by Bayer CropScience under the brand names Movento and Ultor.

Mechanism

Spirotetramat is active against piercing-sucking insects, such as aphids, mites, and white flies, by acting as an ACC inhibitor, interrupting lipid biosynthesis in the insects, and is in IRAC group 23. It is a systemic insecticide that penetrates plant leaves when sprayed on. It is ambimobile, being transported both upwards and downwards through vascular bundles. In plants, it is hydrolyzed to the enol form by cleavage of the central ethoxycarbonyl group. This enol is more stable due to double bond being in a ring and the conjugation with the amide group and the benzene ring.

Bayer obtained spirotetramat's first regulatory approval in Tunisia in 2007. It was recognized by the European Union May 1, 2014.

Spirotetramat has moderate to low acute toxicity, is irritating to eyes and potentially sensitizing to skin. When tested on rats, it was not shown to be carcinogenic. In Denmark, it is listed as harmful to aquatic invertebrates, but not dangerous to bees.