Ovicidal, larvicidal and juvenilizing activity of a picolinephenoxyanilide against Cydia pomonella

N-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-2-pyridinecarboxamide (1) was synthesized from commercially available materials and its ovicidal and larvicidal activity against Cydia pomonella (L) was tested. The compound showed a LC₅₀ of 0.98 mg ml^-1 when eggs less than 24 h were sprayed using a Potter Tower, but it had no effect when eggs older than this were sprayed. The compound did not have larvicidal activity when larvae were treated with 1200 μ g^-1. However, the larval head capsules were smaller than those in the controls when treated at this concentrations. To assess its possible juvenile-hormone- like activity, the compound was topically applied to young pupae of Tribolium confusum du Val, where it produced clear juvenilization effects, which were dependent on the applied dose. (C) 2000 Society of Chemical Industry.