Solenopsis invicta is a globally invasive species with serious ecological and economic impacts. As limitations of conventional chemical control become evident, botanical insecticides offer a promising alternative. This study identifies 6-hydroxycoumarin as the key insecticidal compound from Artemisia lavandulaefolia and systematically elucidates its multi-mechanistic toxicity. The compound exhibited potent gastric toxicity (LC₅₀ = 55.144 mg/L at 72 h) and caused complete behavioral disruption at 125 mg/L, eliminating grasping/walking capacity and nearly suppressing all aggregation/climbing activities. Metabolomic analysis revealed extensive metabolic dysregulation, with significant disruption of CYP450-mediated xenobiotic metabolism pathways. Corresponding enzyme assays confirmed 23% CYP450 inhibition alongside 119–422% induction of GST, CarE, and SOD activities. Histo-pathological and ultra-structural examinations demonstrated dose-dependent midgut epithelial damage, mitochondrial cristae disintegration, and cellular vacuolization. These findings collectively demonstrate that 6-hydroxycoumarin induces mortality through synchronized behavioral incapacitation, metabolic dysfunction, CYP450 enzymes inhibition, and induction of apoptotic pathways, positioning it as an effective botanical insecticide for sustainable S. invicta management. • 6-hydroxycoumarin also showed toxicity and behavioral inhibition to S. invicta . • Metabolomics shows effects on energy metabolism and cytochrome P450 metabolism. • 6-Hydroxycoumarin significantly inhibits CYP450 enzyme activity. • 6-Hydroxycoumarin induces severe apoptosis of midgut cells in S. invicta .
Luo et al. (Wed,) studied this question.