Their biological activity is generally attributable to inhibition of NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase activity and thereby mitochondrial respiration.

这一类化合物之所有很好的杀虫活性，是由于对还原烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核甘酸(NADH)的抑制阻断了线粒体的呼吸。