Science. 1980 Apr 4;208(4439):74-6. doi: 10.1126/science.208.4439.74.
The formamidine pesticide chlordimeform and its N-demethylated metabolites cause the light organ of the firefly Photinus pyralis L. to glow brightly. Monodemethyl chlordimeform is active at doses as low as 5 nanograms per insect when applied topically. This action is postsynaptic and probably involves membrane-bound receptors since cyproheptadine blocks the glows induced by both monodemethyl chlordimeform and octopamine, the putative neurotransmitter in the light organ. The pesticidal and pestistatic properties of the formamidines may result from actions on octopaminergic systems.
甲脒类杀虫剂双甲脒及其 N-去甲基代谢物可使萤火虫 Photinus pyralis L 的发光器官发出明亮的光。当局部应用时，低至每只昆虫 5 纳克的单去甲基双甲脒即可发挥作用。这种作用是突触后的，可能涉及膜结合受体，因为赛庚啶可阻断单去甲基双甲脒和章鱼胺（发光器官中的假定神经递质）诱导的发光。甲脒类杀虫剂的杀虫和抑菌特性可能是由于对章鱼胺能系统的作用。
