Rotenone as an insecticide

Rotenone is one of seven naturally occurring chemicals permitted for occasional restricted use inThis picture was obtained from http://www.nature.com/nsu/001109/001109-4.html organic farming.  It is generally used to control aphids as well as the raspberry beetle and sawflies.  However, it is rarely used as it can have an adverse effect on beneficial species as well as pests.  Unlike modern, synthetic pesticides it breaks down easily and quickly and so was thought to pose little danger.  It is also used as a garden dust to control insects and rotenone-based pesticides are on sale across Britain.

Rotenone is also on sale as an insecticide shampoo for dogs, cattle and sheep, which is used to kill lice.

This picture was obtained from http://www.fisheries.org/rotenone/Another use of rotenone is to kill fish parasites.  This must only be done using very small doses, as rotenone is also toxic to fish.  In October 2000, rotenone was used in a fjord in Western Norway to kill cod parasites.  It was used in small enough quantities so as to kill the parasites while allowing the cod to survive.  Rotenone has also been used in Norwegian rivers in attempts to eradicate the salmon parasite gyrodactylus.

The mechanism of action of rotenone is similar for both insects and fish and it is outlined on the page describing the use of rotenone as a piscicide.