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

Maryla Szczepanik,Anna Gliszczyńska,Maksymilian Hnatejko,Beata Zawitowska

doi:10.1007/s13355-016-0411-x

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.

Highlights

Numerous problems associated with the use of chemical insecticides have led researchers to look for natural agents that can be directed against insect pests
Means followed by the same letters within each column are not significantly different a For structures of the compounds labeled by number in this column, see Fig. 1 b Data are expressed as percentages of the consumption of the control in the no-choice test c From Gliszczynska et al (2014)
Chemical modification of the β-damascone structure leads to increased antifeedant activity of the resulting derivatives

Summary

Introduction

Numerous problems associated with the use of chemical insecticides have led researchers to look for natural agents that can be directed against insect pests. Bioactive compounds from plants are considered an ecologically safe source of environmentally friendly insecticides, and they help to reduce synthetic insecticide usage (Miresmailli and Isman 2014). These compounds with various chemical structures are accumulated in plant tissues and act as a defense system against phytopathogens and herbivores due to their antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial, and insecticidal properties (Bassolé and Juliani 2010; Cosić et al 2010; Pattnaik et al 1997). Secondary plant metabolites that exhibit a high level of antifeedant activity play a more important role in insect food selection than feeding attractants or stimulants (Nawrot and Harmatha 2012). The characteristic feature of antifeedants is their high specificity; their deterrent effect depends on the insect species considered (Schoonhoven 1982)

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