Insecticidal and larvicidal activities of the mycotoxins aflatoxin B1 rubratoxin B, patulin and diacetoxyscirpenol towards Drosophila melanogaster.

In larvicide tests with four mycotoxins, aflatoxin B1 was most toxic to Drosophila melanogaster, followed by rubratoxin B and diacetoxyscirpenol. In concentrations of 20, 10 and 1 mug/cm-2 rubratoxin B and patulin had strong insecticidal activities. Aflatoxin B1 and diacetoxyscirpenol were less active in the contact tests.