Anthrenocerus Australis Research Articles

Protecting wool carpets from beetle and moth larvae with nanocidal titanium dioxide desiccant

Nanopesticides are an emerging type of engineered nanomaterial that has been shown to enhance several physical, photo-physical and antimicrobial properties of wool textiles. Nanoparticles have an advantage over the more widely used continuous coatings for wool textiles, as they are less likely to adversely affect haptic properties, due to less pinning of cuticle scales and less inter-fibre bonding. Hence, the nanocidal activities of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2) towards two insect pests of textiles made from wool and other proteinaceous fibres were investigated, namely Anthrenocerus australis and Tineola bisselliella. The nanoparticles were applied to wool carpet at levels between 0.01 and 1.5% by mass, and the carpets assessed by bioassay. The TiO2 exhibited statistically significant (p < 0.05) control of larvae of both species. A. australis was the more readily controlled species and a “borderline” effectiveness against it, was achieved according to internationally recognised criteria. The lowest mass losses of the treated wool carpets (as a proportion of the mass losses of the untreated voracity controls) were 38% for A. australis (1.5% TiO2) and 57% for T. bisselliella (0.5% TiO2). It was shown to be more difficult to reduce the feeding of T. bisselliella on carpet, than on fabric. This investigation widens understanding of the action of entomotoxic nanocides on textiles to a new species (A. australis) and a new product (carpet) and advances this technology closer to the high level of effectiveness desired by consumers and wool processors.

Investigations into the Toxic and Repellent Effects of Propiconazole on the Wool-Digesting Carpet Beetle Larvae Anthrenocerus australis (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

Previous work had shown propiconazole applied to wool gave a protective effect against the keratinophagous insect larvae of the Australian carpet beetle Anthrenocerus australis. To elucidate the mode of action of propiconazole on Anthrenocerus australis, repellency trials were carried out using untreated control and propiconazole-treated wool. A reversible choice experiment using Petri dishes, and an irreversible olfactometer choice experiment were carried out. Treated surface repellency trials were also carried out. No repellency effect was detected with any of these experiments. Direct contact experiments were carried out by application of propiconazole solutions directly to Anthrenocerus australis larvae and by feeding larvae propiconazole-treated wool. No short or long-term toxic effects were detected, and subsequent feeding on untreated wool was not reduced. These results suggest an anti-feeding and/or gut-specific mode of action of propiconazole on Anthrenocerus australis that is likely to be different to that of the commonly used wool insecticides. This provides an opportunity to research a new approach to the control of this wool pest.

The efficacy of antifungal azole and antiprotozoal compounds in protection of wool from keratin-digesting insect larvae

The seven azole compounds, econazole nitrate, sulconazole nitrate, miconazole nitrate, thiabendazole, epoxiconazole, propiconazole, and tebuconazole, were applied to wool fabrics at 3.0% on mass of wool and the protection from wool-digesting Tineola bisselliella (common clothes moth) larvae was assessed in bioassays. Econazole nitrate gave the greatest protection according to Wools of New Zealand Test Method 25, easily passing the bioassay. Other good results with sulconazole and epoxiconazole led to further bioassays being performed with Australian carpet beetle larvae Anthrenocerus australis. Propiconazole provided the most effective protection of wool from this species, with a concentration of approximately 0.4% on mass of wool predicted to give adequate insect resistance. A combination of propiconazole and isoniazid was trialed against Anthrenocerus australis, without any synergistic effect. The antiprotozoal compound pentamidine isethionate had no measurable effect on Anthrenocerus australis larvae, but provided a moderate anti-feeding effect on Tineola bisselliella. Antimicrobial compounds could affect the digestive process of wool-digesting insects either directly or by their effects on any gut flora and/or fauna. Azoles are antifungal compounds, and are likely to disrupt the insect utilisation of cholesterol by inhibiting the cytochrome P450 enzymes. Propiconazole was trialed as a dyebath-applied insect-proofing agent on piece-dyed carpet, showing inefficient uptake onto wool, but good fastness to carpet shampooing and light exposure.

Description of the Larval Stage ofMyrmeanthrenus frontalisArmstrong andAnthrenocerus stigmacrophilusArmstrong (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), with a Discussion of their Phylogenetic Relationships

The first descriptions of the larval stage of Myrmeanthrenus frontalis Armstrong and Anthrenocerus stigmacrophilus Armstrong (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) are presented. The larva of Anthrenocerus australis (Hope) is illustrated and briefly characterized. In light of a morphology-based phylogenetic study, A. stigmacrophilus is more closely related to M. frontalis than it is to A. australis.

Insecticidal activity of huperzine A from the New Zealand clubmoss, Lycopodium varium.

A bioactivity-directed investigation of an extract of the New Zealand clubmoss, Lycopodium varium, collected on subantarctic Campbell Island, has led to the isolation of the alkaloid huperzine A (1) as the major antifeedant and insecticidal component. Huperzine A showed insecticidal activity against the Australian carpet beetle, Anthrenocerus australis (LD(50) = 110 ppm), the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina (LD(50) = 2380 ppm), and the webbing clothes moth, Tineola bisselliella (LD(50) = 630 ppm). Feeding by A. australis was reduced by 97% at 63 ppm.

Development and biology of the immature stages of Anthrenocerus australis hope (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

Short descriptions are given of the immature stages of Anthrenocerus australis Hope. Egg hatch occurred from 15 to 30 °C with the incubation period ranging from 35 to 7 d respectively. The duration of the larval stage was highly variable and the number of instars before pupation varied, with a minimum of five. Larvae survived 6 weeks of starvation without significant mortality during which time they regressed in size and weight and moulted at least once. At a constant temperature of 25 °C, the minimum number of weeks from egg hatch to pupation varied from 8 weeks in a photoperiod of 16 h light and 8 h dark to 24 weeks in a photoperiod of 8 h light and 16 h dark. Two distinct periods of pupation were observed in a number of cohorts at 20 and 25 °C. The sex ratio changed from male to female domination as the larval duration increased.

Effect of a neem ( Azadirachta indica A. Juss, Meliaceae) extract on survival and feeding of larvae of four keratinophagous insects

Six rates of a neem seed extract ranging from 0.1–2.6 mg azadirachtin/g wollen cloth were tested against late instar larvae of the Australian carpet beetle Anthrenocerus australis Hope, the webbing clothes moth Tineola bisselliella Hummel, the case-bearing clothes moth Tinea dubiella Stainton and the brown house moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella Stainton. Feeding damage decreased with increasing rates for all species. A significant rate response was found for T. bisselliella and T. dubiella larval survival after 2 weeks, but there was no effect on A. australis and H. pseudopretella, apart from a rate response in larval moulting in the latter. When the bioassay was repeated using the first instar H. pseudospretella, survival increased with increasing rates of azadirachtin.

An infestation ofMonopis crocicapitellaClemens (Lepidoptera: Tineidae) in wool carpet

The first case of the tineid Monopis crocicapitella Clemens infesting wool carpet in New Zealand is reported. The developmental stages and life cycle under controlled environmental conditions are described briefly. The effect of humidity on the survival of first instar M. crocicapitella larvae was compared with five other keratinophagous pest species; namely Tineola bisselliella Hummel, Tinea dubiella Stainton, Hofmanophila pseudospretella Stainton, Anthrenocerus australis Hope and Anthrenus verbasci Linnaeus. In contrast to these species, M. crocicapitella larvae failed to survive at 51% relative humidity, and showed optimum development at 93% relative humidity. This high humidity requirement ensures that M. crocicapitella causes problems only under unusual environmental conditions, such as found in this infestation.

Adult development and reproduction in Anthrenocerus australis Hope (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

Anthrenocerus australis Hope adults completed a quiescent phase at a mean age of 3.3 days and first mated at a mean age of 4.9 days. Newly mated adults were either starved or fed water, sugar solution, pollen or both pollen and sugar solution to assess effect of diet on longevity and fecundity. Pollen had no effect. Males given water lived longer than those starved or fed pollen. Adults fed sugar solution, with or without pollen, lived longer than those on the other diets. Starved females laid an average of 13 eggs with the majority being laid in the first week after mating and none after 2 weeks. Females supplied water had a mean fecundity of 22 eggs. Those fed sugar solution had a mean fecundity of 28 eggs with a high proportion of the total eggs being laid in the 3rd and subsequent weeks after mating. Multiple mating was observed to occur more frequently in pairs fed sugar than those without sugar. The internal reproductive morphology of both sexes is described and reproductive maturation related to the quiescent period and age at first mating.

Midgut proteinase activities of three keratinolytic larvae, Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Tineola bisselliella, and Anthrenocerus australis, and the effect of proteinase inhibitors on proteolysis

AbstractThe midgut proteinase activities were characterized from the keratinolytic larvae of two lepidopterans, Hofmannophila pseudospretella (Stainton) (Oecophoridae) and Tineola bisselliella (Hummel) (Tineidae), and one coleopteran, Anthrenocerus australis (Hope) (Dermestidae). The major endopeptidase activities, characterized using specific enzyme inhibitors, were serine proteinases with hydrolytic activity against N‐benzoyl‐DL‐arginine‐p‐nitroanilide and against N‐succinyl‐L‐alanyl‐L‐alanyl‐L‐prolyl‐L‐leucine‐p‐nitroanilide. No significant levels of metalloendopeptidase or cysteine endopeptidase activities were detected. Aminopeptidase activity was present in all larvae. The enzyme levels and properties of the two moth larvae were similar to each other and to those of phytophagous lepidopteran larvae but different from those of the beetle larva. Whereas only a limited number of serine proteinase inhibitors inhibited the midgut proteolysis of the lepidopteran larvae, most inhibitors inhibited the midgut proteolysis of the beetle larva. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Antifeedant and insecticidal activity of compounds fromPseudowintera colorata(Winteraceae) on the webbing clothes moth,Tineola bisselliella(Lepidoptera: Tineidae) and the Australian carpet beetle,Anthrenocerus australis(Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

AbstractExtracts of the leaves of the New Zealand native treePseudowintera colorata(Raoul) showed insecticidal and antifeedant activity against the webbing clothes moth,Tineola bisselliella(Hummel), and antifeedant activity against the Australian carpet beetle,Anthrenocerus australis(Hope). Assay-directed fractionation showed that two sesquiterpene dialdehydes, polygodial and 9-deoxymuzigadial, were responsible for these activities. Both compounds had similar antifeedant and insecticidal activity at rates from 3 to 0.4 mg/g wool in bioassays.

Studies on the Digestion of Wool by Insects VII. Some Features of Digestion in Three Species of Dermestid Larvae and a Comparison with Tineola Larvae

Three species of dermestid larvae (Anthrenocerus australis, Anthrenus verbasci, and Attagenus piceus) are shown to be capable of digesting wool.