UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTI 
DEPARTMENT BULLETIN No. 795 
Washington, D. C. Issued July 28, 1919; Revised May 15, 1923 
ADULTERATION OF INSECT POWDER WITH POWDERED DAISY FLOWERS 
(CHRYSANTHEMUM LEUCANTHEMUM L). 
By R. C. Roark, Assistant Chemist. Insecticide and Fungicide Board, and 
G. L. Keenan, Microanalysis Microchemical Laboratory, Bureau of Chem- 
istry. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. I Page. 
Adulteration of insect powder 1 I Chemistry of Chrysanthemum leu- 
Uses for Chrysanthemum leucanthe- canthemum 3 
mum 2 Morphology of Chrysanthemum leu- 
Insecticidal action of Ghrysanthe- canthemum •> 
mum leu canthemum 2 Summary 7 
ADULTERATION OF INSECT POWDER. 
Almost from the time that it first appeared as an article of com- 
merce, insect powder has been subjected to adulteration with a great 
variety of substances. Flowers of other plants of the family Com- 
posite naturally suggested themselves for this purpose, particularly 
those of the genus Chrysanthemum, to which the three species of 
genuine insect flowers 1 belong. Of all the species of Chrysan- 
themum, C . leucanthemum probably has been one of those most often 
utilized for the sophistication of insect powder, and in the course 
of the examination of commercial insect powders for the Insecticide 
and Fungicide Board, its presence has been frequently detected. 
This plant, popularly known as " oxeye daisy," " field daisy." " white 
weed," and " marguerite." is a common weed in many parts of the 
United States, and also grows wild in those regions in Europe where 
the Dalmatian insect flowers (O. cinerarice folium) grow. Its cheap- 
ness and read}^ availability have favored its use as an adulterant. 
The flowers have been the only part of the plant used for this pur- 
pose. These flowers, a regular article of commerce with the col- 
'• Insect powder" consists of the powdered flower heads of any of the following spe- 
<ies of Chrysanthemum: (1) Chrysanthemum (Pyrethrum) omeraricefolium (Trev.) 
Bocc. ; (2) Chrysanthemum {Pyrethrum') roseum Web and Mohr. ; (31 Chrysanthemum 
marshallii Aschers (synonym. Pyrethrum carneum M. B.). (Insecticide Decision 1. In- 
secticide and Fungicide Board, U. S. Department of Agriculture. August 26. 1911.) At 
the present time all of the insect powder obtained in the United States is of the first- 
named species. 
37471—23 1 
