STREPTOMYCES AVERMITILUS :

• AVERMECTIN (MK-936)
• A macrocyclic lactone derived from the actinomycete Streptomyces avermitilus
• In insects, it blocks the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid)
• Acute oral toxicity of 0.15 EC formulation (rats) is 650 mg/kg
• Acute dermal toxicity (rabbits) is 2000 mg/kg

The toxin avermectin is produced by the actinomycete Streptomyces avermitilus in fermentation. It is active against insects at very low dosages, and formulations containing avermectin are utilized against insects on a number of crops in California.

Avermectin has also become widely used to control nematode parasites of animals.

Although activity has been shown against plant parasitic nematodes, it has never been commercially developed for this purpose.

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