Sulfoxaflor (SFX)

Sulfoxaflor is a systemic insecticide which acts as an insect neurotoxin and is the only member a class of chemicals called the sulfoximines which act on the central nervous system of insects with much lower toxicity to mammals very similarly to neonicotinoids. The chemical works by interfering with the transmission of stimuli in the insect nervous system. Specifically, it causes a blockage in the nicotinergic neuronal pathway.

This blockage leads to the accumulation of acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter, resulting in the insect's paralysis, and eventually death. It is effective on contact and via stomach action. Because sulfoxaflor binds much more strongly to insect neuron receptors than to mammal neuron receptors, this insecticide is selectively more toxic to insects than mammals.