Chlorpyrifos-loaded Silver/Polyethylene Glycol/Chitosan Nanocomposite: Improved Termiticidal Activity against Microcerotermes diversus. (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Pesticides play an important role in increasing food production by pest control. Most pesticides are less soluble in the aqueous media and need organic solvents for desirable efficacy, causing environmental pollutions. Nanopesticides overcome the problems associated with native pesticides through reduction in the quantity of pesticide and controlling the risks for human and environmental health. In this research, chlorpyrifos (CPS) was loaded in Ag/PEG/Cs nanoparticles (Ag/PEG/Cs/CPS NPs) and then evaluated as a nanopesticide against Microcerotermes diversus Silvestri (Isoptera: Termitidae). The target nanopesticide was characterized by XRD, UV-VIS, FT-IR, and TEM. The results revealed that the NPs were spherical with the medium-sized of 11 nm. The biological activity of the NPs was also estimated in vitro against Microcerotermes diversus. The results confirmed the effectiveness of the nanopesticide at concentrations of 0.05 µl/l (5 ppm) after 48 h against termites and also at a lower concentration of 0.005 µl/l (50 ppm) after 72 h. The nanopesticid could be considered as a promising alternative to the conventional harmful pesticides for controlling termites.