When I spray a cockroach with some Raid, what is happening to it biochemically? I know that many insects turn over and kick their legs in the air. Why do they do so? Is it interferring with some type of physiological pathway?
Also, why aren’t the same things to observed humans or other animals?
Thanks!
Raid contains the artificial pyrethrin Tetramethrin, and a pyrethroid potentiator piperonyl butoxide.
The pyrethrins kill by interfering with the operation of sodium channels in insect neurons. Here’s a description of the sodium channels, and their interaction with pyrethrins. It gets technical fast. but there are some pretty pictures of the channel.
Dunno about RAID, but here is the scoop on Dursban which is a pesticide.
As that second link mentioned, the ability of pyrethrins to bind to and inhibit sodium channels depends on the precise amino acid sequence of the channel protein. Fish share enough of that sequence with insects that they are quite sensitive to pyrethrins, but birds and mammals do not.
As Squink points out, pyrethrins can kill more than insects.
Insecticidal soap (or a little dish soap) kills insects by washing away the waxy coating that keeps them from drying out, and isn’t very toxic to other things.
Does anyone know why when I spray a roach with Raid or something similar the bastards come flying after me? Is it their way of saying,“Haha bitch, I might die but I am going to make you run!!”?