Insect pests have caused economic losses valued at billions of dollars in agricultural production. Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller), the Mediterranean flour moth, is of major economic importance as a flour and grain feeder and is often a severe pest in flourmills. This study provides a suitable route for the direct preparation of thiosulfonates 2 and 3 from thiols, under mild conditions, with good yields; these thiosulfonates were tested for their regulatory effect on insect growth. The chronic ingestion of thiosulfonates resulted in a significant reduction in larval survival and weight. In addition, the tryptic activity of larvae was sensitive to these thiosulfonates. Results suggest that thiosulfonates 2 and 3 have a potential antimetabolic effect when ingested by A. kuehniella. The use of AgNO3/BF3 center dot OEt2 and Al(H2PO4)(3)/HNO3 provides a suitable route for the direct preparation of thiosulfonates from thiols under mild conditions with good yields. These thiosulfonates were toxic for A. kuehniella larvae, suggesting their potential as biotechnological tools.