Effects of halolactones with strong feeding-deterrent activity on the growth and development of larvae of the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Abstract

The effects of dietary applied of β-damascone and its synthetic derivatives γ- and δ-halolactones, which show strong antifeedant activity, on the growth and development of larvae of the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), were studied. Bioassays were performed in a dose-dependent manner. In the bioassays, oat flakes treated with 1.0, 0.5, and 0.1 % (w/v) acetone solutions of the tested compound or acetone alone as control were served as food. The experiments were conducted using 2-week-old larvae with an average body weight of 4.35–4.88 mg. High correlations between antifeedant activity and larvicidal and growth-inhibitory effects were observed. Larvae reared on diets containing the compounds (at a concentration of 1 %) with high deterrent activity were characterized by a prolonged period of development, lower body weight gain, and strong tendency for cannibalism as a result of starvation. The control larvae ended their development after 24 days with a mean body weight of 22.9 mg. At the same developmental time, the mean body weights of larvae treated with the δ-halolactones γ-chloro- and γ-bromo-δ-lactone were only 60.3 % and 43.2 % of that of the control larvae. The larval periods for larvae on the diets containing γ-chloro- and γ-bromo-δ-lactone were 33 and 41 days, respectively. The larval developmental time and body weight gain were not significantly influenced by lower doses of the compounds, with the exception of γ-bromo-δ-lactone. This compound, when applied at a concentration of 0.5 %, significantly prolonged larval development as compared to the control larvae, and caused high mortality of larvae and pupae. The adult emergence percentage was 37.51 % when this treatment was applied, as compared to 90.0 % in the control. Thus, β-damascone derivatives with a lactone ring exhibit both dose-dependent behavioral effects and post-ingestion toxicity against A. diaperinus larvae, and may have the potential to control this pest.

Sublethal Effects of the Milky Latex of Sodom Apple, Calotropis procera (Alton) on the Growth, development, and some Physiological Aspects of the Greater Wax Moth, Galleria mellonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

“…Such delays in larval development due to feeding inhibition may result in impaired larval development and unsuccessful emergence of adults. The high value of FI percentage, calculated in this study proves that C. procera latex possess feeding inhibition properties as, generally, the higher the value of FI, the lower the rate of feeding (Szczepanik et al, 2016 andJinguji et al, 2018). The feeding inhibition of C. procera leave extract against another two lepidopteran larvae; Spodoptera littoralis and Spodoptera lithura has been reported by Abdel-Rahman and Al-Mozini (2007) and Bakavathiappan, et al (2012), respectively.…”

Susceptibility of the Lesser Mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), From Broiler Farms of Southern Brazil to Insecticides

“…These methods have limited efficacy, since they do not reach all insects present, due to some insects surviving in galleries in the farm structure, favoring new infestations. Alternative control strategies, such as biopesticides and entomopathogenic fungi have some efficacy against A. diaperinus but are rarely used in broiler farms (Chernaki-Leffer et al 2007, Rezende et al 2009, Szczepanik et al 2016. Though some of these management strategies reduce the infestation of this species, the use of insecticides remains the main control strategy (Oliveira et al 2016).…”

Characteristics of lesser mealworm Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

“…W obrębie omawianej tematyki w ośrodkach badawczych w Polsce i na świecie przeprowadzono szereg badań w warunkach laboratoryjnych. Prowadzone badania dotyczyły przede wszystkim wpływu różnych środków chemicznych (insektycydów), ale także składników bioaktywnych (43) na zredukowanie liczebności A. diaperinus. Wyniki prowadzonych badań wskazują jednak, że oporność pleśniakowca lśniącego na stosowane chemiczne środki owadobójcze wzrasta (5).…”