The isolation and structure determination of (Z)-1, 17-diaminooctadec-9-ene from several species of Coccinellidae is reported. Several of the most active synthetic pyrethroid insecticides in the presence of sea anemone toxin II, induced a dose related influx of sodium ion into the C9 mouse neuroblastoma. The influx of sodium ion into this mammalian cell did not take place with a DDT analogue, EDO and several new combined DDT-pyrethroid insecticides, although these have been reported to cause excess sodium influx into arthropod axons, related to their insecticidal activity. This difference between species in the action of the new insecticides at the nerve sodium channel explains their low mammalian toxicity.