scholarly journals Behavioral Responses of the Common Bed Bug to Essential Oil Constituents

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 184
Author(s):  
María A. González-Morales ◽  
Martín Terán ◽  
Alvaro Romero

Botanical-derived pesticides have arisen as an attractive alternative to synthetic insecticides to effectively manage infestations of bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.). While information on contact, residual, and fumigant toxicity of plant-essential oils against bed bugs have been recently published, there is a gap of information regarding the repellent activity of these products and their constituents. Identification of essential oil constituents (EOCs) with repellent activity will help develop potentially efficacious essential oil-based formulations for use in bed bug management programs. In this study, we first screened fresh and 24 h-aged residues of geraniol, eugenol, carvacrol, thymol, citronellic acid, linalool, menthone, trans-cinnamaldehyde, α-pinene, β-pinene, and limonene for avoidance behavior from individual bed bugs with a video-tracking system. Six EOCs, geraniol, eugenol, citronellic acid, thymol, carvacrol, and linalool were further evaluated overnight in choice tests to determine whether 24-h aged residues were still avoided by groups of bed bugs. While bed bugs avoided resting on filter papers treated with 24-h aged residues of geraniol, eugenol, citronellic acid, and carvacrol, bed bugs aggregated in areas treated with linalool-aged residues. Barriers of EOCs did not prevent bed bugs from reaching a warmed blood source and acquiring blood meals. Our results show that novel formulations of natural product insecticides that include geraniol, eugenol, carvacrol, or citronellic acid have potential to repel bed bugs. The presence of host-associated cues might interfere with these responses.

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 294-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Mahmoodi ◽  
Oroj Valizadegan ◽  
Vahid Mahdavi

Abstract Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is one of the most harmful, world-wide known pests of greenhouse crops and ornamental plants. This insect feeds on plant sap, produces honeydew, and transmits plant viruses, while causing quantitative and qualitative damage to plants. For controlling this pest in greenhouses, plant essential oils are used as an alternative to chemical insecticidal. So in this study, fumigant toxicity of Petroselinum crispum L. (Apiaceae) plant oil on the abovementioned adult pest was investigated. Dry seeds were ground and subjected to hydrodistillation using a modified Clevenger-type apparatus and the resulting oil contained myristicin (42.65%), β-phellandrene (21.83%), p-1,3,8-menthatriene (9.97%), and β-myrcene (4.25%). All bioassay tests were conducted at 27±2°C, 65±5% relative humidity (RH) and at a photoperiod of 16 : 8 h (light : dark). This research was performed in a completely randomised design with six treatments (five different concentrations of essential oils plus the control). Each concentration included three replicates and each replicate consisted of 20 adult pests. The results showed that the aforementioned essential oil showed significant mortality of adults 24 h after exposure. The value LC50 of the mentioned plant oil on T. vaporariorum was 2.41 μl/l air. And mortality percentage showed higher sensitivity of T. vaporariorum against the application of the essential oil. The value LT50 estimated for T. vaporariorum in a concentration of 2.41 μl/l air was 8.17 h. The fumigant toxicity of this essential oil had an ordered relationship with the concentration and time exposure. The results of this research showed that the mentioned plant oil had appropriate insecticidal effects on these greenhouse pests. The findings showed that P. crispum oil had a high impact on the above-mentioned pest, and its use is suggested because of its high potential fumigant toxicity. The oil of P. crispum may be used in integrated pest management programmes in greenhouses.


2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 821-827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishanthi Abeywickrama ◽  
A. A. C. K. Adhikari ◽  
Priyani Paranagama ◽  
Chammi S. Palehepitiya Gamage

The bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus, (F.) causes major losses during the storage of cowpea seeds [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] in Sri Lanka. Essential oil was extracted from Alpinia calcarata (Rosc.) and 1,8-cineole, identified as the major constituent of the essential oil, was tested for its potential insecticidal activity against C. maculatus. The adults of C. maculatus were susceptible to both fumigant toxicity and contact and fumigant toxicity of 1,8-cineole and A. calcarata oil. In the fumigant toxicity assay, the LC50 (0.685 g L-1) value of 1,8-cineole was similar to that of A. calcarata oil. However, LC50 values of 0.068 g L-1 and 0.141 g L-1 were obtained for the contact and fumigant toxicity of 1,8-cineole and A. calcarata oil, respectively. Oviposition and F1 adult emergence were significantly inhibited by 1,8-cineole and A. calcarata oil at concentrations higher than 0.80 g L-1 in the fumigant toxicity and 0.123 g L-1 in the contact plus fumigant toxicity. Repellent activity of A. calcarata oil was more potent to C. maculatus than 1,8-cineole at doses ranging from 10 to 40 mg. This study reveals that 1,8-cineole is the most toxic component present in A. calcarata oil, and that the repellent activity of A. calcarata oil could be due to 1,8-cineole as well as the other constituents present in the essential oil. Key words: Callosobruchus maculatus (F.), Alpinia calcarata (Rosc.), 1,8-cineole, essential oils, cowpea


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-121
Author(s):  
William Ramiro Patiño Bayona ◽  
Erika Plazas ◽  
Jenifer Jhoana Bustos Cortes ◽  
Juliet Angélica Prieto Rodríguez ◽  
Oscar Javier Patiño Ladino

The maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais) is one of the main insect responsible of significant losses in stored products, and to keep nutritional value of them to find effective and safe solutions are very important. The Hypericum genus might be a potential source of new bio-insecticides due to the chemical composition of essential oils. In this study, components of essential oils of three Hypericum species were investigated for first time by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and, fumigant and contact toxicities as well as the repellent activity of essential oils of them were evaluated against S. zeamais adults. While the main components in H. mexicanum oil were determined as n-nonane (53.08%) and α-pinene (25.28%), the major constituents were determined as α-pinene (45.52%) and β-caryophyllene (13.59%) in the essential oil of H. myricariifolium. Chemical composition of essential oil of H. juniperinum were found to be n-nonane (12.0%), α-pinene (8.25%), geranyl acetate (7.93%), and β-caryophyllene (13.60%). The results revealed that H. mexicanum and H. myricariifolium oils have fumigant toxicity (LC50 < 500 µL/L air) and a potential action as repellents (RP > 70% at 6.2–22.7 μL/L air) for the control of the pest.


Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 104
Author(s):  
Sung-Chan Lee ◽  
Seon-Mi Seo ◽  
Min-Jung Huh ◽  
Jun-Hyeong Kwon ◽  
Il Nam ◽  
...  

We investigated the repellent effect of 12 Apiaceae plant essential oils on nymphal and adult (male and female) forms of the bean bug, Riptortus clavatus (Thunberg) (Hemiptera: Alydidae), using a four-arm olfactometer. Among the essential oils tested, ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi Sprague) essential oil showed the strongest repellent activity against the nymphal and adult bean bugs. For female adults, the repellent activity was significantly different between an ajowan oil-treated chamber and an untreated chamber down to a concentration of 14.15 μg/cm2. We also investigated the repellent activity of individual ajowan essential oil constituents. Of the compounds examined, carvacrol and thymol showed the most potent repellent activity against the nymphal and adult bean bugs. Carvacrol and thymol exhibited 73.08% and 70.0% repellent activity for the bean bug nymph at 0.71 and 2.83 μg/cm2, respectively, and 82.6% and 80.7% at 5.66 and 11.32 μg/cm2, respectively, for male adults. Carvacrol and thymol exhibited strong repellent activity against female adult bean bugs down to a concentration of 2.83 μg/cm2. Ajowan essential oil, thymol and carvacrol elicited a negative electroantennogram (EAG) response from adult bean bugs. This could explain the repellent activity of ajowan essential oil and its constituents. Our results indicate that ajowan essential oil and its constituents carvacrol and thymol can be potential candidates as the ‘push’ component in a ‘push-pull’ strategy for bean bug control.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mojgan Alizadeh ◽  
Akram Arianfar ◽  
Ameneh Mohammadi

Objective: Ziziphora clinopodioides is an edible medicinal plant belongs to the Labiatae family that widespread all over Iran. It used as culinary and also in cold and cough treatments in Iran. The aim of present work was to evaluate the effect of different timeframes during the hydrodistillation on essential oil composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. Materials and Methods: The essential oil of Z. clinopodiodes was extracted via hydrodistillation with Clevenger apparatus. The fractions of essential oil were captured at 6 times from the beginning of the distillation: (10, 20, 60, 120, 180 and 240 min). The fractions of essential oil were analyzed by GC/MS and their antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activities were studied by Disk - well diffusion and DPPH methods respectively. Results: Six distillation times and whole essential oil were captured during the hydrodistillation. Essential oil yield dropped off significantly during distillation progressed (1.0% for 10 min and 0.025 for 240 min). 1,8 Cineol, Isomenthone, Pulegone, Piperitenone and Citronellic acid were major compounds in fractions and they were affected by distillation times. Pulegone was major compound in all of essential oils. In antioxidant activity assay, whole essential oil was stronger than was stronger than positive control and fractions of essential oil, because of higher levels of Isomenthone, Piperitenone and Citronellic acid. Strongest antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, E. coli and C. albicans was observed from 10 min fraction. Conclusion: Our results indicated that distillation time can create essential oils with specific properties and we can achieve to more efficient essential oil in short times.


Author(s):  
Mohammad Akhoundi ◽  
Dahlia Chebbah ◽  
Denis Sereno ◽  
Anthony Marteau ◽  
Julie Jan ◽  
...  

Bed bugs, Cimex lectularius and C. hemipterus, are common blood-sucking ectoparasites of humans with a large geographical distribution, worldwide. In France, little is known about the status of bed bugs’ infestation and their resistance to insecticides, particularly, pyrethroids. Here, we aimed to find mutations in the kdr gene, known to be involved in resistance to insecticides. We gathered bed bugs from various infested locations, including 17 private houses, 12 HLM building complex, 29 apartments, 2 EHPAD, and 2 immigrants’ residences. A total of 1211 bed bugs were collected and morphologically identified as C. lectularius. Two fragments of the kdr gene, encompassing codons V419L and L925I, were successfully amplified for 156 specimens. We recorded sense mutation in the first amplified fragment (kdr1) in 89 out of 156 (57%) samples, in which in 61 out of 89 (68.5%) sequences, a change of valine (V) into leucine (L) V419L was observed. Within the second fragment (kdr2), a homozygous mutation was recorded in 73 out of 156 (46.7%) specimens at the codon 925. At this position, 43 out of 73 (58.9%) specimens had a sense mutation leading to the replacement of leucine (L) by isoleucine (I). Among 162 mutant sequences analyzed (89 for the kdr1 fragment and 73 for the kdr2 one), we detected single point mutation in 26.6%, while 73.4% presented the mutation in both kdr1 and kdr2 fragments. All modifications recorded in bed bug populations of Paris are described to be involved in the knockdown resistance (kdr) against pyrethroids.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. L. Mejía-Argueta ◽  
J. G. Santillán-Benítez ◽  
M. M. Canales-Martinez ◽  
A. Mendoza-Medellín

Abstract Background To test the antimicrobial potential of clove essential oil that has been less investigated on antimicrobial-resistant organisms (extended-spectrum β-lactamase-ESBL-producing Escherichia coli), we collected 135 ESBL-producing Escherichia coli strains given that E. coli is the major organism increasingly isolated as a cause of complicated urinary and gastrointestinal tract infections, which remains an important cause of therapy failure with antibiotics for the medical sector. Then, in this study, we evaluated the relationship between the antibacterial potential activity of Syzygium aromaticum essential oil (EOSA) and the expression of antibiotic-resistant genes (SHV-2, TEM-20) in plasmidic DNA on ESBL-producing E. coli using RT-PCR technique. Results EOSA was obtained by hydrodistillation. Using Kirby-Baüer method, we found that EOSA presented a smaller media (mean = 15.59 mm) in comparison with chloramphenicol (mean = 17.73 mm). Thus, there were significant differences (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, EOSA had an antibacterial activity, particularly on ECB132 (MIC: 10.0 mg/mL and MBC: 80.0 mg/mL), and a bacteriostatic effect by bactericidal kinetic. We found that the expression of antibiotic-resistant gene blaTEM-20 was 23.52% (4/17 strains) and no expression of blaSHV-2. EOSA presented such as majority compounds (eugenol, caryophyllene) using the GC–MS technique. Conclusions Plant essential oils and their active ingredients have potentially high bioactivity against a different target (membranes, cytoplasm, genetic material). In this research, EOSA might become an important adjuvant against urinary and gastrointestinal diseases caused by ESBL-producing E. coli.


Author(s):  
Raymond Berry

AbstractThe bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., is a common ectoparasite found to live among its vertebrate hosts. Antennal segments in bugs are critical for sensing multiple cues in the environment for survival. To determine whether the thermo receptors of bed bugs are located on their antennae; innovative bioassays were created to observe the choice between heated and unheated stimuli and to characterize the response of bugs to a heat source. Additionally, the effect of complete antenectomized segments on heat detection were evaluated. Heat, carbon dioxide, and moisture are cues that are found to activate bed bug behavior; a temperature at 38°C was used to assess the direction/degree at which the insect reacts to the change in distance from said stimulus. Using a lightweight spherical ball suspended by air through a vacuum tube, bed bugs and other insects are able to move in 360° while on a stationary point. Noldus EthoVision XT was used to capture video images and to track the bed bugs during 5-min bioassays. A bioassay was created using four Petri dish arenas to observe bed bug attraction to heat based on antennae segments at 40°C. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of heat on complete antenectomized segments of the antennae. The results in this experiment suggest that bed bugs detect and are attracted to heat modulated by nutritional status. Learning the involvement of antennae segments in heat detection will help identify the location and role of thermoreceptors for bed bug host interaction.


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