A decrease in maximum fluorescence (Fm) and fluorescence yield (Fv/Fm) and increase in non-photochemical quenching (qN) were observed in the cultures treated with quinalphos, endosulfan, and carbaryl. The effects were time dependent but most of them were observed during the first 2 h. The insecticides also effectively increased the transthylakoid pH difference (ΔpH), this being attributed to inhibition of thylakoid ATPase. Acceleration of qN showed a direct correlation with the increase in ΔpH in all cases. A. convolutus was more sensitive to all insecticides. Carbaryl was less toxic than quinalphos and endosulfan.