Eco-friendly Control of Urban Pests: Effects of Piper nigrum-Based Silver Nanoparticles on the Biology and Histology of the American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)

The synanthropic pest and a model organism for entomological research, American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (Linnaeus), can survive in unfavorable environments for humans. To investigate the genetic mechanisms of success in environmental adaptation of P. americana, we de novo reassembled its whole genome based on next-generation sequencing and PacBio sequencing. The final genome reassembly consisted of approximately 3.34 Gb with scaffold N50 of 465.51 Kb. The completeness (95.4%) of the complete genome was evaluated with single-copy orthologous genes using BUSCO. We identified 18,618 protein-coding genes, 16,443 (88.32%) of which were well supported by public protein databases. We identified 482.04 Mb (approximately 14.45%) repeat elements, 1,385,093 perfect microsatellitessimple sequence repeatsin P. americana genome, which was higher than other four Blattaria insects. Comparative genomics analysis revealed obvious expansion in the gene families associated with chemoreception (olfactory receptors, gustatory receptors, ionotropic glutamate receptors, chemosensory protein, and sensory neuron membrane protein), which provided the necessary information for functional characterization of the chemosensory receptors of P. americana, with potential for new or refined applications of semiochemicals-based control of this pest insect. Similarly, gene families (cytochrome P450s, carboxyl/choline esterases, and UDP-glycosyl-transferases) encoding receptors for bitter or toxic substances and detoxification enzymes were obviously expanded in P. americana, enabling its ability to detect and detoxify many toxins. Enrichment analysis of positively selected genes in P. americana revealed items associated with metabolic process and catalytic activity, which possibly contributed to the pesticide resistance of P. americana. We also analyzed the homologs to antimicrobial peptide genes reported in the Drosophila genome, and identified two attacins and seven defensins in P. americana. Our data and findings will substantially facilitate molecular studies in P. americana, including elucidation of detoxification mechanisms of xenobiotic, as well as development of new pest management strategies for the control of pests like P. americana.

Simple SummaryThe American cockroach is a widely distributed sanitary pest closely related to human life. The American cockroach is not only a hygienic pest that we all know but also beneficial to humans as its extract can be used medicinally and could be a model organism for physiology and neuroscience studies. In this study, we provide a life table of the American cockroach in a stable environment, including embryonic development, nymphal instars, and adult reproduction. Newly laid eggs hatch into nymphs after about 35 days of embryonic development. Under sufficient materials and space, gregarious nymphs undergo 14 molts before transforming into adults. Adult females can produce fertile offspring whether they have mated or not. On average, mated females produce an ootheca every 4 days, while unmated females produce an ootheca every 10 days. Each ootheca contains 12–16 eggs. Additionally, group living seems to improve the survival rate of offspring of unmated females.The American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (Insecta: Blattodea: Solumblattodea: Blattidae), is an urban hygiene pest but also a model organism for physiology and neuroscience study. However, the current description of the developmental process of the American cockroach is insufficient. In this study, we provide a life table of the American cockroach in a stable environment, including embryonic development, nymphal instars and adult reproduction. Our results show that there are 14 nymphal instars of the American cockroach in groups with sufficient living materials and space. The secondary sexual characteristics are evident in last-instar nymphs and adults, namely, the complete absence of the anal stylus in females. The entire embryonic development process was divided into 20 stages on the basis of lateral-view observations of the embryos. The formation of the embryo involves the fusion of paired blastoderm regions with higher cellular density, similar to that in other insects of Polyneoptera. With respect to reproduction, the gamogenetic females produced their first ootheca earlier than the parthenogenic females, and the frequency of oviposition was higher for the former throughout adulthood. Interestingly, group living seems to improve the parthenogenesis success rate in the American cockroach.

This chapter provides an overview on current trends in urban pest control, including aspects of prevalent trade, sustainable pest control, pest control tools, and green pest control.

In Perak Tengah, effective termite control is essential to preserving the structural integrity of buildings and protecting public health. However, current pest management approaches face challenges such as poor regulatory enforcement, limited use of modern technology, and weak cooperation between public and private sectors. This paper examines how local authorities can improve termite control services for residential developments in their jurisdiction. The study is based on the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) model (Ebeling, 1975) and the Public Service Delivery Model (Osborne, 2010). It evaluates current policies, processes, and stakeholder involvement in termite control. The paper argues that a multi-stakeholder approach, including collaboration between local government, pest control operators, and homeowners, is key to achieving effective and sustainable pest management. Lessons from international best practices in urban pest control (Su & Scheffrahn, 2000) offer valuable insights for improving service delivery in Perak Tengah. This study contributes to urban pest management discussions by identifying gaps in current policies and suggesting an intervention model for local authorities to enhance termite control. The findings aim to help policymakers streamline pest control regulations, improve monitoring systems, and develop public awareness programs. Future research should focus on assessing the impact of these policies on termite infestations and evaluating the economic effects on housing developments.

German cockroaches (Blatella germanica L.), American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana L.,) and brown-banded cockroaches (Supella longipapla F.) are the most important urban insect pests. The food detection and feeding behavior of these cockroaches are varied and depend on different factors. German cockroach starts feeding between 7:00–10:00 pm and 4:00–5:00 am, whereas the American cockroach starts within the first few hours of darkness followed by an inactive period in the latter part, and throughout the light period. The calling in females of brown-banded cockroaches followed periodicity and peak calling occurs in the scotophase. Likewise, the behavioral response of male brown-banded cockroaches was at a peak in the scotophase. German cockroach compound eye is sensitive to blue-green portion of the spectrum (major) and ultraviolet (UV) (minor). The compound eye of the American cockroach received the blue-green and violet (or ultraviolet) regions of the spectrum. Information on the compound eye sensitivity of brown-banded cockroaches is limited. The possession of specific hygroreceptors could play an important role in both German and American cockroaches. The German cockroach preferred carbohydrates food and consumed more containing starch, glucose, sucrose, mannitol, maltose, sorbitol, or glycerol. Very limited studies were carried out to determine the food detection ability and the feeding behavior of the brown-banded cockroach. Future studies should be directed toward the color preferences of the brown-banded cockroach.

Pest control provides important and useful services in rural and urban environments, activities, and value chains. Despite the significance of them, under operational, environmental and food security and safety terms, there are still gaps in the awareness level of targeted groups. Therefore, in the current work, we have carried out questionnaire-based surveillance to pest control operators in Greece and Cyprus, in an attempt to illustrate their knowledge regarding pest control in conjunction with demographic characteristics. In this context, the results underlined the need for further training in all aspects of pest control, but also relative activities that are often are operated by pest controllers, such as food safety activities and applications in the urban and sub-urban environment. The replies that had been obtained during the survey showed good correlations of knowledge with specific variables, such as the size of the company, the age group, and the educational background, in conjunction with the country in which the professional activities are carried out. To our knowledge, this is the first work of its kind, in terms of pest controllers’ perceptions and self-evaluation, illustrating specific knowledge gaps that have to be alleviated towards improved services in urban pest control, especially in sensitive urban areas and facilities, and improved measures for safety during the applications.

Efficacy and toxicity of cockroach gel bait (imidacloprid 2.5% and fipronil 0.05%) against American cockroach infestation in sewer system

Optimizing the Loading Level of Boric Acid in a Particle Bait: A Preliminary Study with <i>Periplaneta americana</i> (Blattodea: Blattidae)

В последнее десятилетие получило развитие направление борьбы с вредителями населенных мест (в городах, сельских населенных пунктах, в местах временного размещения людей), или городской пест-контроль (urban pest control), отдельное от медицины, лесного и сельского хозяйства. Пест-контроль является составной частью административного управления территориями и хозяйственной деятельностью по снижению численности биологических проблемных видов. Локальные нормативные акты, регулирующие такую деятельность, разработаны в формате стандартов организации (НЧНОУ «Институт пест-менеджмента», г. Москва). Профессиональный стандарт «Работники по борьбе с вредителями», одобренный 05 июня 2020 года (протокол № 44) Советом по профессиональным квалификациям при президенте РФ, находится на подписи у министра труда и социальных отношений РФ. Предложены передовые технологии: удаленный мониторинг вредителей на объектах; цифровые технологии сбора; обработка сведений о вредителях; оценка вероятностей, связанных с опасностью заселения объекта вредителями, оценка ущерба, риска от их жизнедеятельности; регулирование численности вредителей до допустимого уровня с использованием гуманных методов обращения с животными; средства и технологии, наносящие минимальный ущерб нецелевым животным и обеспечивающие низкий уровень загрязнения пестицидами. In the last decade, the direction of pest control of populated areas (in cities, rural settlements, in places of temporary accommodation of people), or urban pest control, separate from medicine, forestry and agriculture, has been developed. Pest control is an integral part of the administrative management of territories and economic activities to reduce the number of biological problem species. Local regulations regulating such activities have been developed in the format of the organization's standards (NPSEI "Institute of Pest Management", Moscow). Professional standard "Pest Control Workers", approved on June 05, 2020 (Protocol No. 44) The Council for Professional Qualifications under the President of the Russian Federation, is signed by the Minister of Labor and Social Relations of the Russian Federation. Advanced technologies are proposed: remote monitoring of pests at facilities; digital collection technologies; processing of information about pests; assessment of probabilities associated with the danger of pest infestation, assessment of damage, risk from their vital activity; regulation of the number of pests to an acceptable level using humane methods of handling animals; means and technologies that cause minimal damage to non-target animals and ensure a low level of pesticide contamination.

The American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) is an urban pest with a precise chemosensory system that helps it achieve complex physiological behaviours, including locating food and mating. However, its chemosensory mechanisms have not been well studied. Here, we identified 71 putative odorant carrier protein genes in P.americana, including 57 new odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and 11 chemosensory proteins (CSPs). To identify their physiological functions, we investigated their tissue expression patterns in antennae, mouthparts, legs, and the remainder of the body of both sexes, and determined that most of these genes were expressed in chemosensory organs. A phylogenetic tree showed that the putative pheromone-binding proteins of P.americana were in different clades from those of moths. Two genes, PameOBP24 and PameCSP7, were expressed equally in antennae of both sexes and highly expressed amongst the OBPs and CSPs. These genes were expressed in Escherichia coli and the resultant proteins were purified. The binding affinities of 74 common odorant compounds were tested with recombinant PameOBP24 and PameCSP7. Both proteins bound a variety of ligands. Our findings provide a foundation for future research into the chemosensory mechanisms of P.americana and help in identifying potential target genes for managing this pest.

Urban pests, represented in this chapter by cockroaches, ants and termites, present a unique challenge for microbial control. They are all known to detect and avoid both chemical and microbial pesticides, they have few natural enemies to integrate with microbial pesticides, the relatively constant environment is often inhibitory to infection by fungi, and there are few naturally occurring pathogens to develop. Add to this the expectation of householders to have quick, long-term control of these pests and the difficulty of obtaining funding for research on the use of pathogens for urban pest control (Oi and Hinkle, 1997), and it becomes obvious why this is an under-researched area. However, there are incentives; an increasing proportion of householders and owners of buildings are becoming reluctant to use synthetic chemicals because of allergies, other health concerns and, in the case of landlords, the threat of legal action. In addition, buildings offer protection from UV and extremes of temperature thus enhancing the persistence of microbial pesticides. The scale of damage caused by these pests and the value of the urban pest control market has led a number of companies, notably EcoScience (East Brunswick, NJ, USA), to develop products for this market. Unfortunately, data on the efficacy of these products (e.g.,BioBlastTM, a Metarhizium-based product sold by EcoScience for termite control) are rarely published in refereed journals and so most of the methods described in this chapter have been developed by University or Government scientists.

As a model hemimetabolous insect species and an invasive urban pest that is globally distributed, the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, is of great interest in both basic and applied research. Previous studies on P. americana neuropeptide identification have been based on biochemical isolation and molecular cloning. In the present study, an integrated approach of genomics- and peptidomics-based discovery was performed for neuropeptide identification in this insect species. First, 67 conserved neuropeptide or neurohormone precursor genes were predicted via an in silico analysis of the P. americana genome and transcriptome. Using a large-scale peptidomic analysis of peptide extracts from four different tissues (the central nervous system, corpora cardiac and corpora allata complex, midgut, and male accessory gland), 35 conserved (predicted) neuropeptides and a potential (novel) neuropeptide were then identified. Subsequent experiments revealed the tissue distribution, sex difference, and developmental patterns of two conserved neuropeptides (allatostatin B and short neuropeptide F) and a novel neuropeptide (PaOGS36577). Our study shows a comprehensive neuropeptidome and detailed spatiotemporal distribution patterns, providing a solid basis for future functional studies of neuropeptides in the American cockroach (data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD021660).

Isoxazolines inhibit γ-aminobutyric acid chloride channels in insects and acarids by binding to postsynaptic receptors. This prevents chloride influx, leading to depolarization/hyperexcitation, paralysis, and death. Here, we evaluated the potential utility of a novel isoxazoline, isocycloseram, against several urban insect pests. Isocycloseram was active at low doses against the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.)[median lethal dose (LD50) 5-15 ng per insect at 72 h, topical assays]; Argentine ant (Linepithema humile Mayr), Pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis (L.), common bed bug (Cimex lectularius (L.) (approximately 40 mg m-2, residual surface spray); Eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar)and Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki) (5 μg g-1 w/w, tunneling assays); and mosquito, Anopheles stephensi Liston (120 and 150 mg m-2 treated surfaces, aged indoors for 9 months). Additionally, cockroach gel bait at 1% isocycloseram (w/w) caused 95-100% mortality in German, American (Periplaneta americana (L.), and oriental (Blatta orientalis (L.) cockroaches within 5-14 days. Isocycloseram proved to be active against both laboratory and field populations of German cockroaches at doses lower or equal to those of other chemicals. Ants, bed bugs, and mosquitoes readily acquired lethal doses of isocycloseram from different surfaces treated with formulated products. Given its non-repellent nature, delayed effects, and activity at low rates, isocycloseram can be a very effective compound against subsocial, social, and other human disease vector insect pests. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Alterations in acetylcholinesterase and electrical activity in the nervous system of cockroach exposed to the neem derivative, azadirachtin

The purpose of this experiment was to study the food preference of the household cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) in respect of Domestic Pest Control. These collected cockroaches were given choices among nine food items (three carbohydrate-rich foods: banana, bread, potato; three protein-rich foods: crushed peanuts, cottage cheese, walnut and three mixed diet). Modified nine-chambered olfactometers were used for this food preference experiment. Each kind of food was placed in each chamber of olfactometer with 10 cockroaches in each replica were placed in the center of olfactometer. 2 replicas of olfactometer were constructed of same kind. The olfactometers were observed for continuous 5 days i.e. 120 hours. The cockroaches were checked during day and night time each day, the amount of food consumed by them was recorded of each duration and the simple biostatistics mean and standard deviation were used for inferring the food preference of the cockroaches. The results show that the maximum of the cockroaches preferred walnut as compared to other offered baits. Bread was the second most preferred food followed by peanuts, cottage cheese, mixed diet, banana, and potato. Furthermore, the feeding behavior of these cockroaches occurred during the day hours 12:00-4:00 pm and night hours 01:00-04:00 am. The feeding gets of the cockroaches was started by swinging their antenna followed by touching the food baits offered.