Abamectin is a widely used insecticide and anthelmintic. Abamectin, is a member of the Avermectin family and is a natural fermentation product of soil dwelling actinomycete Streptomyces avermitilis. Abamectin (also called Avermectin B1), differs from Ivermectin, the popular member of the Avermectin family, by double bond on C-22-25. Fermentation of Streptomyces avermitilis yields 8 closely related Avermectin homologues out of which B1 (a and b) forms the bulk of the fermentation. The non proprietary name, abamectin, is a combination of Bla (~ 80%) and B1b (~ 20%). Out of all the Avermectins, abamectin is the only one that is used both in agriculture and pharmaceuticals.
Abamectin is an insecticide as well as an acaricide (miticide) and a nematicide. It is also used to control fire ants. Abamectin is provided orally to horses for deworming them.