Acaricidal Properties of Di-(p-chlorophenyl)-trifluoromethylcarbinol

Abstract

Di-(p-chlorophenyl)-trifluoromethylcarbinol, (Cl.C₆H₄)₂C(OH).CF₃ ^1,2, has several interesting biological properties : it is a synergist for DDT in the house-fly^1,3–5 and inhibits oviposition, on tarsal contact, in house-flies⁶ and mosquitoes⁷. Since it is the fluorine analogue of two acaricides, namely DMC [di-(p-chlorophenyl)-methylcarbinol] and ‘Kelthane’ [di-(p-chlorophenyl)-trichloromethylcarbinol], it seemed interesting to assay also its acaricidal properties. The compound was tested against adult females of the red spider mite Tetranychus telarius L. on beans, by a method described recently⁸, and was compared with the commercial acaricides ‘Kelthane’ and chlorobenzilate (ethyl p,p′-dichlorobenzilate). The activity of the fluorine compound was intermediate between those of ‘Kelthane’ and chlorobenzilate (Table 1).