You are here: NPIC Home Page —> Pesticide Ingredients —> Pesticide Types —> Insect Growth Regulators
Insect Growth Regulators
Insect growth regulators are chemicals that mimic juvenile growth hormones in insects. They work by either altering the production of chitin (the compound insects use to make their exoskeleton) or by altering an insect's development into adulthood. Some growth regulators force the insect to develop too rapidly, while others stop development. Because these biopesticides work on hormone pathways in insects, they are less likely to have effects on other organisms, including people.
If you have questions about insect growth regulators, or any pesticide-related topic, please call NPIC at 1-800-858-7378 (7:30am-3:30pm PST), or email us at npic@ace.orst.edu.
Additional Resources on Insect Growth Regulators:
- Insect Growth Regulators (S-Hydroprene, S-Kinoprene, Methoprene, and S-Methoprene) Fact Sheet - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Insect Growth Regulators - Washington State University
Diflubenzuron
- Diflubenzuron Fact Sheet - Extension Toxicology Network (EXTOXNET)
- Diflubenzuron Reregistration (RED) Facts - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Hexaflumuron
- Hexaflumuron General Fact Sheet - National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC)
- Hexaflumuron Technical Fact Sheet - National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC)
Hydroprene
- Hydroprene General Fact Sheet - National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC)
- Hydroprene Technical Fact Sheet - National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC)
Methoprene
- Methoprene Fact Sheet - Extension Toxicology Network (EXTOXNET)
- Methoprene Reregistration (RED) Facts - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Pyriproxyfen
- Environmental Fate of Pyriproxyfen - California Department of Pesticide Regulation
