The insecticidal activity of the BPUs was discovered serendipitiously at Phillips-Duphar who commericaliseddiflubenzuron in 1975.[1] Since then, many BPUs were commercialised by many companies. BPUs accounted for 3% of the $ 18.4 billion world insecticide market in 2018.[3] Lufenuron, was the largest selling BPU in 2016, selling for $ 112 million.[4]
BPUs are active against many types of insect pests, (e.g. lepidoptera coleoptera, diptera) in agriculture,[1][5] as well as being used against termites and animal health pests such as fleas.[6]
BPUs have a good mammalian tox profile. Diflubenzuron is considered to be of very low acute toxicity, and is approved by the WHO for treatment of drinking water as a mosquito larvicide.[8]
BPUs have low acute toxicity against bees, low to moderate toxicity to fish, but high toxicity to aquatic invertebrates and crustaceans.[1]
BPUs have various rates of degradation in the environment. Some older BPUs have high persistance and are no longer sold.[1]Flufenoxuron was shown tobioaccumulate and was banned in the EU in 2011.[9]
^Douris, Vassilis; Steinbach, Denise; Panteleri, Rafaela; Livadaras, Ioannis; Pickett, John Anthony; Van Leeuwen, Thomas; Nauen, Ralf; Vontas, John (2016)."2016".Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.113 (51):14692–14697.doi:10.1073/pnas.1618258113.PMC5187681.PMID27930336.
