Development of an attractant for the scarab pest Macrodactylus subspinosus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).

Field trials were conducted over several seasons to determine the attractant most successful in luring adult rose chafers, Macrodactylus subspinosus (F.), to traps. During the first season, 20 compounds were compared with the standard lure, valeric acid + hexanoic acid + octyl butyrate (1:1:1). The two new standards establishedthat season were: valeric acid + 1-nonanol (1:1); and valeric acid + hexanoic acid + octyl butyrate + 1-nonanol (1:1:1:1). The following season, 36 compounds were evaluated, comparing them to the new standards. The performance of the standard binary lure valeric acid + 1-nonanol was improved when the alcohol 1-nonanol was replaced by its analog trans-2-nonenol and this was confirmed during the third season. At the same time, a second test was conducted with 29 new candidates, which were combined with valeric acid and compared with the standard: valeric acid + hexanoic acid + octyl butyrate + 1-nonanol (1:1:1:1). A control and the single compound alpha-ionone were included, resulting in the discovery of a new more powerful attractant, alpha-ionone. Testing of alpha-ionone continued the following season, at which time the initial leading candidate and new ones containing trans-2-nonenol were tested against the single attractant alpha-ionone and various combinations of it. A new five-component mixture of valeric acid, hexanoic acid, octyl butyrate, trans-2-nonenol, and alpha-ionone out performed all other lure combinations.

Activity of repellents applied to skin for protection against Amblyomma americanum and Ixodes scapularis ticks (Acari: Ixodidae).

Twenty-nine repellents were tested on human skin for duration of activity as protectants against nymphal lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum) and against black-legged or deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis Say). Eleven of these repellents, including deet, provided > 2 h of protection against the lone star tick. One repellent, 1-(3-cyclohexenyl-ylcarbonyl) piperidine, was effective > or = 4 h. Four repellents (2 pyridines and 2 piperidines with protection lasting 2.3-3 h) showed acaricidal activity to more than half of the ticks tested after 9-12 min of exposure. Seven repellents that were most effective against A. americanum, including deet, were tested against the black-legged tick. None was effective and no knock-down was observed. These results suggest that the black-legged tick is less sensitive to repellents than the lone star tick.

Trimedlure enantiomers: Differences in attraction for mediterranean fruit fly,Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) (Diptera: Tephritidae).

The most biologically active enantiomer of trimedlure, a synthetic lure attractive to male Mediterranean fruit flies, is the 1S,2S,4R enantiomer of isomer C, the fert-butyl ester of ris-4-chloro-trans-2-methylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid. We also determined that the 1R,2R,5S enantiomer of isomer A is significantly more attractive than its optical antipode. Essential differences in the current synthetic work that are critical to possible commercialization of this preparation are detailed herein.

Repellents and other personal protection strategies against Aedes albopictus.

Five chemical repellents, a controlled-release repellent formulation, Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil and permethrin-impregnated clothing fabric were assayed for personal protection against bites of Aedes albopictus. On skin the chemical repellents provided significant (P = 0.05) protection from biting; however, Ae. albopictus was more sensitive to the repellents than the standard, Ae. aegypti. Two experimental repellents provided 6-7 h protection from bites, 25% deet in ethanol provided greater than 8 h protection, a controlled-release formulation containing 35% deet provided greater than 10 h protection, and the Avon product provided 0.64 h protection from bites. Permethrin-treated fabric provided complete protection from mosquito bites through 0-5 washings. Repellent products containing greater than or equal to 12% deet should provide satisfactory protection against Ae. albopictus; the use of permethrin-impregnated clothing should provide additional protection.

Electroantennogram responses of mediterranean fruit fly,Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) to trimedlure and itstrans isomers.

Electroantennograms (EAGs) of unmated laboratory-reared male and femaleCeratitis capitata (Wiedemann) were recorded in response to the attractant trimedlure [tert-butyl 4(and 5)-chloro-trans-2-methylcyclohexane-1-carboxylate] and its fourtrans isomers. For both sexes, the magnitude of the EAG response was relatively low as compared to other previously tested compounds (i.e., plant volatiles). Dosage-response curves generated for all TML isomers revealed that flies responded to increasing dosages over a relatively narrow range (two to three log steps). Responses for both sexes peaked at ca. 10 µg dose for all isomers. Antennal response in males was greatest to the C isomer followed by the B1, A, and B2 isomers, while responses of females were greatest for the A isomer followed by B1, C, and B2. Both sexes exhibited a long recovery period for the response potential to return to baseline at doses above 1 µg for all of the isomers tested, except for B2. The low EAG sensitivity to trimedlure and the apparent EAG selectivity to the C isomer in males are discussed in relation to the known field attractancy of males to the C, A, B1, and B2 isomers.

Mosquito repellents: monocarboxylic esters of aliphatic diols.

Selected monocarboxylic esters of aliphatic diols that contained an alicyclic group in the acyl portion of the molecule were effective repellents for Aedes aegypti, Anopheles quadrimaculatus and An. albimanus when tested on cloth. Although 25 of the esters provided greater than 21 days of protection against all 3 species, the repellent potency of the 143 hydroxyesters that were tested was found to vary with mosquito species. Anopheles quadrimaculatus was especially susceptible to this type of structure; 112 of the esters provided greater than 21 days of protection and 56 provided greater than 100 days of protection. Aedes aegypti was moderately susceptible to these repellents; 72 esters provided greater than 21 days of protection. Anopheles albimanus was the most difficult mosquito to repel. Only 29 of the esters provided greater than 21 days of protection.

Evaluation of personal protection methods against phlebotomine sand flies including vectors of leishmaniasis in Panama.

Three personal protection methods were evaluated against phlebotomine sand flies in Panama. Skin applications of five selected repellents including deet (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) provided a mean coefficient of protection (CP) of 99.2% against the attack of at least three sand fly species. Deet-treated net jackets also provided good protection, but it was concluded that an additional application of repellent to the unprotected face was necessary for maximum protection. Permethrin-treated clothing did not provide the protection expected. Apparently sand fly behavior and resistance to quick knock-down were responsible for the numbers of bites recorded, and therefore maximum protection from bites would require application of deet or another suitable repellent to the exposed skin when wearing permethrin-treated clothing.

Ultrasonography of female urethral diverticula.

Three patients with urethral diverticula demonstrated with conventional urethrography were examined sonographically. Two patients had simple cystic structures beneath the bladder base conforming to the radiographic findings. The echographic appearance of the third diverticulum was cystic with internal solid debris. The sonogram in the latter case provided a more accurate anatomic delineation of the diverticulum than conventional techniques.

Insect juvenile hormones: highly potent synthetic mimics.

The substitution of a 7-alkoxy group for the 6,7-epoxy moiety in aryl terpenoid ethers having high juvenile hormone activity has produced several compounds exceptionally active against Tenebrio molitor. The most potent compound [7-ethoxy-1-(p-ethylphenoxy)-3,7-dimethyl-2-octene, called JH-25] is active at the level of 10 picograms per insect, or about 100 times more active than other promising juvenile hormone mimics so far reported. Compound JH-25 was also active against Tribolium confusum.