Diflubenzuron is a benzoylphenylurea insecticide that inhibits chitin synthesis in insects with an IC₅₀value of 0.611 nM for¹⁴C-labeled N-acetyl-D-glucosamine incorporation in the cockroach.^1,2Specifically, it inhibits chitin synthetase at the egg and larval stages, leading to an inability to exit the egg or exocuticle, respectively.²Diflubenzuron is genotoxic and mutagenic in mice at doses of 0.3, 1, and 3 mg/kg.³Formulations containing diflubenzuron are used primarily in agricultural applications but are also used to control insects in livestock production.

1.Verloop, A., and Ferrell, C.D.Pesticide Chemistry in the 20th Century37237-270(1977) 2.de Barros, A.L., de Souza, V.V., Navarro, S.D., et al.Genotoxic and mutagenic effects of diflubenzuron, an insect growth regulator, on miceJ. Toxicol. Environ. Health A.76(17)1003-1006(2013) 3.Heuckeroth, R.O., Glaser, L., and Gordon, J.I.Heteroatom-substituted fatty acid analogs as substrates for N-myristoyltransferase: An approach for studying both the enzymology and function of protein acylationProc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.85(23)8795-9799(1988)