Insecticide Resistance Action Committee

The Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) was formed in 1984 and works as a specialist technical group of the industry association CropLife to be able to provide a coordinated industry response to prevent or delay the development of insecticide resistance in insect, mite and nematode pests. IRAC strives to facilitate communication and education on insecticide and traits resistance as well as to promote the development and facilitate the implementation of insecticide resistance management strategies.[1]

IRAC is recognised by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nations as an advisory body on matters pertaining to insecticide resistance.[2]

Pesticideresistance.org is a database financed by IRAC, US Department of Agriculture, and others.[3]

Sponsors

IRAC's sponsors are: ADAMA, BASF, Bayer CropScience, Corteva, FMC, Mitsui Chemicals, Nihon Nohyaku, Sumitomo Chemical, Syngenta and UPL.[4]

Mode of action classification

IRAC publishes an insecticide mode of action (MoA) classification that lists most common insecticides and acaricides and recommends that "successive generations of a pest should not be treated with compounds from the same MoA Group".[5][6] IRAC assigns a mode of action (MoA) to an insecticide, based on sufficient scientific data.[7] They then update the mode of action (MoA) classification.[5] Several insecticides and classes of insecticide may act through the same mode of action.[8]

Classes of Insecticide

If an insecticide is successful, follow-on insecticides, based on the chemical structure of the first in class (prototype) insecticide, may be developed either by the original company or by competitors. Sought after are insecticides which have improved properties or which kill different orders or species of insect. The resulting classes of insecticides are named by IRAC after common usage has been established, although alternative names may be found in the scientific literature.

Table of modes of action and classes of insecticide

In the table the number of insecticides listed in each class is given, and an example of each class. The number of insecticides in the IRAC class listing as of 2024 is given in column Nr (A). The number in the Compendium of Pesticide Common Names[9] (insecticide + acaricide) is given in column Nr (B), although the name given there to the class historically is often different to the IRAC class name.

IRAC
code 		Mode of action Class Nr (A) Nr (B) Example
1 A Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors Carbamates 26 52 Carbofuran
1 B Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors Organophosphates 66 171 Chlorpyrifos
2 A GABA-gated chloride channel blockers Cyclodiene organochlorines 2 17 Endosulfan
2 B GABA-gated chloride channel blockers Phenylpyrazoles (Fiproles) 2 7 Fipronil
3 A Sodium channel modulators Pyrethroids, Pyrethrins 43 84 Permethrin
3 B Sodium channel modulators DDT, Methoxychlor 2 20 DDT
4 A Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) competitive modulators Neonicotinoids 7 11 Imidacloprid
4 B Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) competitive modulators Nicotine 1 1 Nicotine
4 C Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) competitive modulators Sulfoximines 1 1 Sulfoxaflor
4 D Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) competitive modulators Butenolides 1 1 Flupyradifurone
4 E Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) competitive modulators Mesoionics 3 3 Triflumezopyrim
4 F Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) competitive modulators Pyridylidenes 1 1 Flupyrimin
5 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) allosteric modulators - Site I Spinosyns 2 2 Spinosad
6 Glutamate-gated chloride channel (GluCl) allosteric modulators Avermectins, Milbemycins 4 10 Abamectin
7 A Juvenile hormone receptor modulators Juvenile hormone analogues 3 7 Methoprene
7 B Juvenile hormone receptor modulators Fenoxycarb 1 1 Fenoxycarb
7 C Juvenile hormone receptor modulators Pyriproxyfen 1 1 Pyriproxyfen
8 A Miscellaneous non-specific (multi-site) inhibitors Alkyl halides > 3 10 1,3-dichloropropene
8 B Miscellaneous non-specific (multi-site) inhibitors Chloropicrin 1 1 Chloropicrin
8 C Miscellaneous non-specific (multi-site) inhibitors Fluorides 2 5 Sulfuryl fluoride
8 D Miscellaneous non-specific (multi-site) inhibitors Borates 5 2 Boric acid
8 E Miscellaneous non-specific (multi-site) inhibitors Tartar emetic 1 0 Tartar emetic
8 F Miscellaneous non-specific (multi-site) inhibitors Methyl isothiocyanate generators 3 2 Dazomet
9 B Chordotonal Organ TRPV Channel Modulators pyridine azomethine derivatives 2 2 Pymetrozine
9 D Chordotonal Organ TRPV Channel Modulators Pyropenes 1 1 Afidopyropen
10 A Mite growth inhibitors affecting CHS1 Clofentezine, Diflovidazin, Hexythiazox 3 5 Clofentezine
10 B Mite growth inhibitors affecting CHS1 Etoxazole 1 1 Etoxazole
11 A Microbial disruptors of insect midgut membranes Bacillus thuringiensis and the insecticidal proteins they produce 4 n.a. n.a.
11 B Microbial disruptors of insect midgut membranes Bacillus sphaericus 1 n.a. n.a.
12 A Inhibitors of mitochondrial ATP synthase Diafenthiuron 1 1 Diafenthiuron
12 B Inhibitors of mitochondrial ATP synthase Organotin miticides 3 8 Cyhexatin
12 C Inhibitors of mitochondrial ATP synthase Propargite 1 4 Propargite
12 D Inhibitors of mitochondrial ATP synthase Tetradifon 1 2 Tetradifon
13 Uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation via disruption of the proton gradient Pyrroles, Dinitrophenols, Sulfluramid 3 8 Chlorfenapyr
14 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) channel blockers Nereistoxin analogues 4 5 Thiocyclam
15 Inhibitors of chitin biosynthesis affecting CHS1 Benzoylureas 11 15 Lufenuron
16 Inhibitors of chitin biosynthesis, type 1 Buprofezin 1 1 Buprofezin
17 Moulting disruptor, Dipteran Cyromazine 1 1 Cyromazine
18 Ecdysone receptor agonists Diacylhydrazines 4 6 Tebufenozide
19 Octopamine receptor agonists Amitraz 1 7 Amitraz
20 A Mitochondrial complex III electron transport inhibitors – Qo site Hydramethylnon 1 1 Hydramethylnon
20 B Mitochondrial complex III electron transport inhibitors – Qo site Acequinocyl 1 1 Acequinocyl
20 C Mitochondrial complex III electron transport inhibitors – Qo site Fluacrypyrim 1 4 Fluacrypyrim
20 D Mitochondrial complex III electron transport inhibitors – Qo site Bifenazate 1 1 Bifenazate
21 A Mitochondrial complex I electron transport inhibitors METI acaricides and insecticides 6 9 Tebufenpyrad
21 B Mitochondrial complex I electron transport inhibitors Rotenone 1 1 Rotenone
22 A Voltage-dependent sodium channel blockers Oxadiazines 1 1 Indoxacarb
22 B Voltage-dependent sodium channel blockers Semicarbazones 1 1 Metaflumizone
23 Inhibitors of acetyl-CoA carboxylase Tetronic and Tetramic acid derivatives 5 6 Spirotetramat
24 A Mitochondrial complex IV electron transport inhibitors Phosphides 4 3 Phosphine
24 B Mitochondrial complex IV electron transport inhibitors Cyanides 3 3 Sodium cyanide
25 A Mitochondrial complex II electron transport inhibitors Beta-ketonitrile derivatives 2 6 Cyenopyrafen
25 B Mitochondrial complex II electron transport inhibitors Carboxanilides 1 1 Pyflubumide
28 Ryanodine receptor modulators Diamides 5 19 Chlorantraniliprole
29 Chordotonal organ nicotinamidase inhibitors Flonicamid 1 2 Flonicamid
30 GABA-gated chloride channel allosteric modulators Meta-diamides, Isoxazolines 3 15 Broflanilide
31 Baculoviruses Granuloviruses (GVs), Nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPVs) 4 n.a. Cydia pomonella GV
32 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor (nAChR) Allosteric Modulators - Site II GS-omega/kappa HXTX-Hv1a peptide 1 n.a. GS-omega/kappa HXTX-Hv1a peptide
33 Calcium‐activated potassium channel (KCa2) modulators Acynonapyr 1 1 Acynonapyr
34 Mitochondrial complex III electron transport inhibitors – Qi site Flometoquin 1 1 Flometoquin
35 RNA Interference mediated target suppressors Ledprona 1 2 Ledprona
36 Chordotonal organ modulators – undefined target site Pyridazine pyrazolecarboxamides 1 1 Dimpropyridaz
37 Vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) inhibitor Oxazosulfyl 1 1 Oxazosulfyl
UN Compounds of unknown or uncertain MoA many various classes 10 83 Benzoximate
UNB Bacterial agents (non-Bt) of unknown or uncertain MoA class not defined 2 n.a. Wolbachie pipientis (Zap)
UNE Botanical essence including synthetic, extracts and unrefined oils with unknown or uncertain MoA class not defined 5 n.a. neem oil
UNF Fungal agents of unknown or uncertain MoA class not defined 6 n.a. Beauveria bassiana strains
UNM Non-specific mechanical and physical disruptors class not defined 3 n.a. Mineral Oil
UNP Peptides of unknown or uncertain MoA no examples none n.a. no examples
UNV Viral agents (non-baculovirus) of unknown or uncertain MoA no examples none n.a. no examples

See also

Further reading

  • Casida, John E. (2012). "The Greening of Pesticide–Environment Interactions: Some Personal Observations". Environmental Health Perspectives. 120 (4): 487–493. doi:10.1289/ehp.1104405. ISSN 0091-6765. PMC 3339468. PMID 22472325.

References

  1. ^ Sparks, Thomas C; Storer, Nicholas; Porter, Alan; Slater, Russell; Nauen, Ralf (2021). "Insecticide resistance management and industry: the origins and evolution of the I nsecticide R esistance A ction C ommittee (IRAC) and the mode of action classification scheme". Pest Management Science. 77 (6): 2609–2619. doi:10.1002/ps.6254. ISSN 1526-498X. PMC 8248193. PMID 33421293.
  2. ^ Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (April 2007). "Resistance Management for Sustainable Agriculture and Improved Public Health" (PDF). Croplife.
  3. ^ "Arthropod Pesticide Resistance Database". Michigan State University. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  4. ^ "IRAC / Our sponsors". IRAC. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Interactive MoA Classification". Insecticide Resistance Action Committee. 2020-09-16. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
  6. ^ Sparks, Thomas C.; Nauen, Ralf (2015). "IRAC: Mode of action classification and insecticide resistance management". Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology. 121. Elsevier BV: 122–128. doi:10.1016/j.pestbp.2014.11.014. ISSN 0048-3575.
  7. ^ "Mode of Action Team". Insecticide Resistance Action Committee. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  8. ^ Sparks, Thomas C.; Crossthwaite, Andrew J.; Nauen, Ralf; Banba, Shinichi; et al. (2020). "Insecticides, biologics and nematicides: Updates to IRAC's mode of action classification - a tool for resistance management". Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology. 167: 104587. doi:10.1016/j.pestbp.2020.104587.
  9. ^ "Classification of Pesticides". BCPC: Compendium of Pesticide Common Names. Retrieved 5 December 2024.