- 34- 
Ann-basine not only replaces nicotine for many purposes, "but in some re- 
spects it is regarded as a "better insecticide thari nicotine. Contrary 
to expectations, the experimental v;orl: indicp-ted that the introduction 
of a methyl group caused a sharp decline in the toxicity of ana"basine. 
Martin (75) in 1936 discussed compounds structurally related to 
nicotine, including anatasine, and speculated upon the reasons for their 
high insecticidal efficiency. 
I^oark (115) in 1936 revieT^ed vrork on anabasine published during 1934 
and 1935 "by Smith, Nelson, G-insburg et al., and G-arman. 
An anonymous (3) rrriter in 1937 reported a talk before the Vegetable 
Growers Association of America by T. H. Parks of Ohio on nevr insect control 
measures. Reference is made to rotenone, pyrethrum, nicotine, and 
anabasine. 
Shepard (129) in 1939 reviewed information on anabasine and compared 
its insecticidal action v;ith that of nicotine, nornicotine, and related 
compounds. 
SUl^MAHY 
Tests to determine the insecticidal efficacy of anabasine and its 
salts have in most cases been carried out under such conditions that it 
is difficult to assign a quantitative value to the results. ?or that 
reason the compiler has not indicated the effectiveness of anabasine 
against each species of insect tested but has only listed the species with 
references to the publications describing the results of the tests. 
In general, the published reports indicate the following: 
Anabasine closely resembles nicotine in its physical, chemicp.l, and 
insecticidal properties, but there are some important differences. Ana- 
basine is less volatile than nicotine and, as might be ezzpected., is less 
effective as a ftimigant. As a contact insecticid-3, anabasine is eo_ual to 
or even superior to nicotine, especially against a.phids.. Sore experimen- 
ters have reported that anabasine is five times as toxic as nico-.-ine when 
spra.yed upon the bean a,phid ( Aphis rumici s L.). As a stomach p':'l'^:n to 
insects, anabasine appears distinctly inferior to nicotine in tcr -r, -i:pon 
the larvae of the oriental fruit moth, red-legged grasshopper, I.le./.can 
bean beetle, Japanese beetle, honeybee, and the silkworm. Anabasine 
appeejrs valueless against the eggs of insects. 
It would seem, therefore, that anabasine is a valuable contract in- 
secticide, especially for use against aphids; but that little can be ex- 
pected from it as a fumigant, an ovicide, or a stoma.ch poison. 
However, tests of anabasine as an insecticide have been limited, and 
new uses for it may be found. It seems well worth while to test its 
suitability for the control of the pea aphid and other insects now 
combated with nicotine. 
