Degradation and acute toxicity of Methidathion and Trichlorfon onProcambarus clarkii,in experimental conditions

Routine applications of organophosphate pesticides may adversely affect many nontarget organisms. Static toxicities in mature crayfish Procambarus clarkii were determined, in laboratory, for two organophosphate insecticides using 24, 48, 72 and 96‐h static tests. Three groups of 10 crayfish were exposed to 0.75 to 6 ppm for Trichlorfon and 0.2 to 0.9 ppm for Methidathion. The 24 to 96‐h LC50 values for Trichlorfon and Methidathion were from 5.14–0.99 ppm and 0.73–0.28 ppm respectively. Studies of degradation of Methidathion and Trichlorfon have been made using 1 ppm for Methidathion and 0.1 ppm for Trichlorfon. Both insecticides were degradated gradually until 96‐h. Results show that Methidathion is more toxic to P. clarkii in our medium and degradation of both pesticides is similar.