Abstract
In this study the resistance opposed to Tineola bisselliella larvae by a commercial sheep-wool panel incorporating borate salts was determined under laboratory conditions. The susceptibility of clothes moth larvae to different concentrations of disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT) incorporated in pure wool was also determined. The commercial wool panel showed a remarkable resistance to moth attack compared with pure untreated wool, and the damage to panel samples was limited to their surface. As a result of bioassays exposing larvae to pure wool treated with DOT, a concentration dependent effect was observed, achieving a good efficacy at an application rate between 40–100 mg/mL. This study highlights the need to protect wool-based construction material with appropriate insecticidal (antifeedant or repellent) substances and supports the development of eco-sustainable solutions.
Highlights
The use of renewable materials for building insulation has been characterized by a significant increase in recent years, as a result of specific incentive systems and a generally increased awareness of economic and ecology related advantages [1]
Among the variety of newly proposed solutions for building wall insulation, the case of wool panels obtained by different technological processes from locally produced sheep wool is significant [2]
Despite the clear advantages associated with the use of such materials, their biodegradability can make them more susceptible to adverse environmental factors, among which a main role is played by infestations of the common clothes moth Tineola bisselliella (Hummel) (Lepidoptera: Tineidae)
Summary
The use of renewable materials for building insulation has been characterized by a significant increase in recent years, as a result of specific incentive systems and a generally increased awareness of economic and ecology related advantages [1]. Despite the clear advantages associated with the use of such materials, their biodegradability can make them more susceptible to adverse environmental factors, among which a main role is played by infestations of the common clothes moth Tineola bisselliella (Hummel) (Lepidoptera: Tineidae). Larvae of this cosmopolitan pest feed on keratin-rich sources of food, exploiting an unusual ability to digest this protein [3], and cause economically significant damages to different items, including clothes, furnishings, books, and art works [4]. The employment of natural enemies like hymenopteran parasitoids have been proposed, but they have not found an actual commercial use [7]
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