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Pestic Biochem Physiol 2020 Jun 28;166:104551. Epub 2020 Feb 28.

State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010070, PR China; Key Laboratory of Herbage and Endemic Crop Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010070, PR China. Electronic address:

Tetraena mongolica Maxim is a species of Zygophyllaceae endemic to China. Because few insect pests affect its growth and flowering, we speculated that this plant produces defensive chemicals that are insect repellents or antifeedants. The effects of different fractions from crude stem and leaf extracts on Pieris rapae were examined. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2020 May 19;13(1):263. Epub 2020 May 19.

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Background: The 30-year-old armed conflict in Sri Lanka resulted in a general breakdown of civil administration in the Northern and Eastern provinces, leading to mobilisation of many armed forces personnel to assist with reconstruction and resettlement. This occupational group has been identified as a priority risk group for leishmaniasis.

Methods: Individuals enlisted at all military establishments in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts, Northern Province of Sri Lanka were included. Read More

J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2020 May 19;16(1):26. Epub 2020 May 19.

Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Rzeszów, Pigonia 1, 35-310, Rzeszów, Poland.

Background: The aim of the study was to record wild plants and fungi sold in the capital of Armenia. This is the first large market survey in the Caucasus region. The area of the Caucasus is characterised by a very high diversity of climates, flora and languages which results in very rich traditions of plant use. Read More

Insects 2020 May 15;11(5). Epub 2020 May 15.

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia.

The stable fly, (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae), remains a significant economic pest globally in situations where intensive animal production or horticultural production provide a suitable developmental medium. Stable flies have been recorded as pests of livestock and humans since the late 1800s to early 1900s. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2020 May 8. Epub 2020 May 8.

Medicinal Plant Biotechnology Lab, Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India.

Mosquitoes spread several life-threatening diseases such as malaria, filaria, dengue, Japanese encephalitis, West Nile fever, chikungunya, and yellow fever and are associated with millions of deaths every year across the world. However, insecticides of synthetic origin are conventionally used for controlling various vector-borne diseases but they have various associated drawbacks like impact on non-targeted species, negative effects on the environment, and development of resistance in vector species by alteration of the target site. Plant extracts, phytochemicals, and their nanoformulations can serve as ovipositional attractants, insect growth regulators, larvicides, and repellents with least effects on the environment. Read More

Malar J 2020 Apr 8;19(1):148. Epub 2020 Apr 8.

Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences, Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania.

Background: Outdoor and early evening mosquito biting needs to be addressed if malaria elimination is to be achieved. While indoor-targeted interventions, such as insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying, remain essential, complementary approaches that tackle persisting outdoor transmission are urgently required to maximize the impact. Major malaria vectors principally bite human hosts around the feet and ankles. Read More

Front Physiol 2020 13;11:176. Epub 2020 Mar 13.

State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.

Attractants and repellents are considered to be an environment-friendly approach for pest management. Odorant receptors (ORs), which are located on the dendritic membranes of olfactory sensory neurons in insects, are essential genes for recognizing attractants and repellents. In the Asian corn borer, , ORs that respond to sex pheromones have been characterized, but general ORs for plant odorants, especially for repellents, have not been identified. Read More

Malar J 2020 Mar 30;19(1):127. Epub 2020 Mar 30.

The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, The Center for Sensory Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.

Background: The species-specific mode of action for DEET and many other mosquito repellents is often unclear. Confusion may arise for many reasons. First, the response of a single mosquito species is often used to represent all mosquito species. Read More

Chemosphere 2020 Jun 12;249:126457. Epub 2020 Mar 12.

Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety-State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base of Ministry of Science and Technology, 50 Zhongling Street, Nanjing, 210014, China; Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 50 Zhongling Street, Nanjing, 210014, China. Electronic address:

In this study, we investigated the accumulation and transport patterns of six phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in two leafy vegetables under hydroponic conditions. The tested PAEs included dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), diallyl phthalate (DAP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP) and benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), and the tested vegetables included Gaogengbai and Ziyoucai. The results revealed that the six PAEs were taken up by vegetables from the solution, although their accumulation and distribution varied among PAEs. Read More

Insects 2020 Mar 18;11(3). Epub 2020 Mar 18.

Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are critical for insects to detect environmental stimuli and regulate homeostasis. Moreover, this superfamily has become potential molecular targets for insecticides or repellents. is one of the most common and widely spread pests of Brassicaceae plants. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2020 Mar 18;13(1):142. Epub 2020 Mar 18.

Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Tropical (CIMPAT), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.

Background: Studying the behavioral response of blood-sucking disease-vector insects to potentially repellent volatile compounds could shed light on the development of new control strategies. Volatiles released by human facial skin microbiota play different roles in the host-seeking behavior of triatomines. We assessed the repellency effect of such compounds of bacterial origin on Triatoma infestans and Rhodnius prolixus, two important vectors of Chagas disease in Latin America. Read More

Pediatr Ann 2020 Mar;49(3):e124-e131

Infestations and arthropod bite reactions in children are common reasons for presentation to pediatric health care providers. Infestations in children include head lice, scabies, and other mites. Fleas and bed bugs are common causes of bite reactions in children, and papular urticaria is a chronic, recurrent eruption resulting from delayed hypersensitivity to a variety of insect bites. Read More

Acta Trop 2020 Feb 28:105419. Epub 2020 Feb 28.

Faculty of Pharmacy, Galenic Development Laboratory (LADEG), Department of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The incidence of dengue, Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever and malaria cases has increased significantly in the world. To avoid mosquito bites, one of the best strategies is the use of repellents. The interest in using plants as mosquito repellents has increased significantly. Read More

J Insect Physiol 2020 Apr 27;122:104038. Epub 2020 Feb 27.

USDA-ARS, Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, 21881 North Cardon Lane, Maricopa, AZ, United States. Electronic address:

Lygus hesperus isa key pest of many economically important crops across western North America. Central to many aspects of the lives of these insects is chemical signalling, with identified roles in host plant selection, aggregation and passive mate guarding. The development of novel monitoring and control approaches for this insect will rely on a sound understanding of how these cues are perceived and processed, and their impact on behavior. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020 02 26;14(2):e0008073. Epub 2020 Feb 26.

Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito serves as a major vector for viral diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, which are spreading across the globe and threatening public health. In addition to increased vector transmission, the prevalence of insecticide-resistant mosquitoes is also on the rise, thus solidifying the need for new, safe and effective insecticides to control mosquito populations. We recently discovered that cinnamodial, a unique drimane sesquiterpene dialdehyde of the Malagasy medicinal plant Cinnamosma fragrans, exhibited significant larval and adult toxicity to Ae. Read More

Front Plant Sci 2019 31;10:1792. Epub 2020 Jan 31.

Department of Agroecology, AU-Flakkebjerg, Aarhus University, Slagelse, Denmark.

Plant parasitic nematodes cause significant crop damage globally. Currently, many nematicides have been banned or are being phased out in Europe and other parts of the world because of environmental and human health concerns. Therefore, we need to focus on sustainable and alternative methods of nematode control to protect crops. Read More

J Agric Food Chem 2020 Mar 26;68(10):3061-3070. Epub 2020 Feb 26.

Emerging Pathogens Institute, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States.

Pyrethroids are one of the most commonly used classes of insecticides, and their acid and alcohol components are esterase degradation products, usually considered to be biologically inactive. In this study, it was found that several pyrethroid acids had a spatial repellent activity that was greater than DEET, often more active than the parent pyrethroids, and showed little cross resistance in a pyrethroid-resistant Puerto Rico strain of mosquitoes. Further investigation revealed that the acids can synergize not only contact repellent standards but also other pyrethroid components as well as the parent pyrethroids themselves. Read More

J Med Entomol 2020 Feb 12. Epub 2020 Feb 12.

Department of Biological Sciences, Smith College, Northampton, MA.

The carboxamide N,N-di-ethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) is the most effective and widely used insect repellent today. However, drawbacks concerning the efficacy and the safety of the repellent have led to efforts to design new classes of insect repellents. Through quantitative structure-activity relationships, chemists have discovered two chemical groups of novel repellents: the acylpiperidines and the carboxamides, with the acylpiperidines generally more potent in biological assays. Read More

Eur J Neurosci 2020 May 2;51(9):1867-1880. Epub 2020 Mar 2.

Laboratorio Fisiología de Insectos, Instituto Biodiversidad Biología Experimental Aplicada, CONICET - UBA, Departamento Biodiversidad Biología Experimental, Facultad Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Sensory aversion is essential for avoiding prospective dangers. We studied the chemical perception of aversive compounds of different gustatory modalities (salty, bitter) in the haematophagous bug, Rhodnius prolixus. Over a walking arena, insects avoided a substrate embedded with 1M NaCl or KCl if provided with water as an alternative. Read More

Pest Manag Sci 2020 May 28;76(5):1603-1611. Epub 2020 Feb 28.

Corteva Agriscience, Indianapolis, IN, USA.

Intellectual property (IP) is an important consideration for entomological research and provides a means to capture value from new discoveries. Herein, we describe an analysis of more than 26 000 patent publications from 2007-2017 related to the field of entomology. These patents were divided among 8000 patent assignees; however, only 5% of the assignees had ≥10 patents. Read More

Biol Pharm Bull 2020 ;43(2):284-288

Department of Pharmaceutics & Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University.

Thiamine hydrochloride has been suggested as a natural, safe yet effective alternative for chemical insect repellents. However, there is a demand for a reassessment of the minimum required dose that is sufficient to perform a topical repellency on the human skin. Therefore, the purpose of the current work is to establish a dose-response curve from which the effective dose (ED) is calculated. Read More

Vet Parasitol 2020 Feb 21;278:109036. Epub 2020 Jan 21.

Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária - Embrapa Meio Ambiente, Rodovia SP 340, km 127,5, CP 69, CEP: 13820-000, Jaguariúna, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address:

Amblyomma sculptum is a tick of medical-veterinary importance. Areas with high infestations need to be monitored, and parasitized hosts treated accordingly. Carbon dioxide (CO) traps and acaricides are commonly deployed as control measures, although with some disadvantages such as high costs, challenging logistics and vertebrate intoxication. Read More

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020 Mar 24;104(5):2163-2178. Epub 2020 Jan 24.

College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.

Tea tree oil (TTO) and its two characteristic components (terpinen-4-ol and 1,8-cineole) have been shown to inhibit Botrytis cinerea growth. In this study, we conducted a transcriptome analysis to determine the effects of TTO and its characteristic components, alone and in combination, against B. cinerea. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020 01 21;14(1):e0007970. Epub 2020 Jan 21.

Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.

Background: Arboviruses transmitted by day-biting Aedes mosquitoes are a major public health concern. With the challenges inherent in arbovirus vaccine and therapeutics development, vector control and bite prevention strategies are among the limited options available for immediate intervention. Bite prevention through personal protective technologies (PPT), such as topical mosquito repellents or repellent-impregnated clothing, may help to decrease biting rates and, therefore, the risk of disease in groups most susceptible to adverse outcomes from Zika virus. Read More

PLoS One 2020 17;15(1):e0227264. Epub 2020 Jan 17.

USDA-ARS Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Laboratory, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America.

The parasitic mite Varroa destructor and the associated viruses it transmits are responsible for most instances of honey bee colony losses in the United States. As such, beekeepers utilize miticides to control Varroa populations. Widespread resistance has developed to the miticides fluvalinate and coumaphos. Read More

Life Sci 2020 Feb 8;243:117271. Epub 2020 Jan 8.

Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata (INIBIOLP), CONICET-UNLP, CCT-La Plata, La Plata, Argentina; Cátedra de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina. Electronic address:

Aims: 1,8-Cineole is a plant-derived monoterpene and a major constituent of Eucalyptus essential oil. Previously, we demonstrated that 1,8-cineole inhibited hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) HepG2 cell growth. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Read More

J Am Mosq Control Assoc 2019 12;35(4):279-284

The use of repellents is a unique measure of personal protection, which can avoid tick attachment and thus reduce the risk of tick-borne infections. In the European Union, the efficacy of the repellents coming onto the market has to be evaluated according to the guidelines published by the European Chemical Agency before registration. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has a similar role. Read More

Chemosphere 2020 May 31;246:125808. Epub 2019 Dec 31.

Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, Henan, China. Electronic address:

This study evaluated the acute developmental toxicity of six priority phthalic acid esters (PAEs) including dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP), and benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) in zebrafish embryos. A novel alcian blue and alizarin red double staining was performed to detect skeletal development of zebrafish larvae. Results revealed that all six PAEs could induce different developmental abnormalities in zebrafish larvae, including abnormal movement, decreased heart rate, spinal curvature, and pericardial edema. Read More

Chem Biodivers 2020 Feb 22;17(2):e1900580. Epub 2020 Jan 22.

College of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, 545006, P. R. China.

Developing effective and eco-friendly antimicrobials and pesticides has become a highly important issue. The repellent, insecticidal and antimicrobial activity of essential oils (EOs) isolated by hydrodistillation from dried leaves of the three Eucalyptus species (E. cloeziana, E. Read More

ACS Omega 2019 Dec 17;4(27):22475-22486. Epub 2019 Dec 17.

Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences and Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, 66075-110 Belém, Pará, Brazil.

Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are the main olfactory proteins of mosquitoes, and their structures have been widely explored to develop new repellents. In the present study, we combined ligand- and structure-based virtual screening approaches using as a starting point 1633 compounds from 71 botanical families obtained from the Essential Oil Database (EssOilDB). Using as reference the crystallographic structure of ,-diethyl--toluamide interacting with the OBP1 homodimer of (OBP1), we performed a structural and pharmacophoric similarity search to select potential natural products from the library Thymol acetate, 4-(4-methyl phenyl)-pentanal, thymyl isovalerate, and -cymen-8-yl demonstrated a favorable chemical correlation with DEET and also had high-affinity interactions with the OBP binding pocket that molecular dynamics simulations showed to be stable. Read More

J Econ Entomol 2020 Apr;113(2):1033-1036

Centro de Investigaciones de Plagas e Insecticidas (UNIDEF-CITEDEF-CONICET-CIPEIN), Juan B. de La Salle 4397, (B1603ALO) Villa Martelli, provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The German cockroach, Blattella germanica L., is a hemimetabolous insect pest of economical and medical importance. N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) is an insect repellent whose effect on this species has received very little attention. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2020 Mar 29;27(7):7618-7627. Epub 2019 Dec 29.

Beijing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Protection and Utilization, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing, 100875, China.

The essential oil (EO) from leaves of Mentha piperita was extracted by hydrodistillation. Twenty-one chemical components, accounting for 97.5% of the total oil, were determined by GC-MS and GC-FID. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 12 27;9(1):19899. Epub 2019 Dec 27.

School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.

Plants are master regulators of rhizosphere ecology, secreting a complex mixture of compounds into the soil, collectively termed plant root exudate. Root exudate composition is highly dynamic and functional, mediating economically important interactions between plants and a wide range of soil organisms. Currently we know very little about the molecular basis of root exudate composition, which is a key hurdle to functional exploitation of root exudates for crop improvement. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2020 Mar 23;190:110106. Epub 2019 Dec 23.

Beijing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Protection and Utilization, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Haidian District, Beijing, 100875, China. Electronic address:

In this work, the essential oil (EO) and supercritical CO fluid extract (SF extract) of four Valerianaceae plants (Valeriana officinalis L., Valeriana officinalis L. var. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020 01 23;117(1):708-716. Epub 2019 Dec 23.

Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195;

Mosquitoes are important vectors of disease and require sources of carbohydrates for reproduction and survival. Unlike host-related behaviors of mosquitoes, comparatively less is understood about the mechanisms involved in nectar-feeding decisions, or how this sensory information is processed in the mosquito brain. Here we show that spp. Read More

Malar J 2019 Dec 21;18(1):436. Epub 2019 Dec 21.

Medical Sciences Research Centre, Ghalib University, Kabul, Afghanistan.

Plant-based repellents have been applied for generations in traditional practice as a personal protection approach against different species of Anopheles. Knowledge of traditional repellent plants is a significant resource for the development of new natural products as an alternative to chemical repellents. Many studies have reported evidence of repellant activities of plant extracts or essential oils against malaria vectors worldwide. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2020 Feb 20;705:135094. Epub 2019 Nov 20.

Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollutant Process and Control, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China. Electronic address:

Production and application of graphene oxide (GO) and biochar for water and soil treatment is steadily growing, driving the necessity to understand the cotransport behavior of contaminants and GO nanoparticles in porous media and the possible effect of biochar to reduce their cotransport. The cotransport of GO nanoparticles and dimethyl phthalate (DMP) as a model in a sand column and biochar-amended sand column (biochar column) was compared. The transport of DMP in the test columns was independent of the solution ionic strength (IS), while the transport of GO decreased with increased IS due to the enhanced aggregation of GO nanoparticles. Read More

Malar J 2019 Dec 10;18(1):414. Epub 2019 Dec 10.

Environmental Health and Ecological Science Department, Ifakara Health Institute, P.O. Box 53, Ifakara, Tanzania.

Background: Many subsistence farmers in rural southeastern Tanzania regularly relocate to distant farms in river valleys to tend to crops for several weeks or months each year. While there, they live in makeshift semi-open structures, usually far from organized health systems and where insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) do not provide adequate protection. This study evaluated the potential of a recently developed technology, eave ribbons treated with the spatial repellent transfluthrin, for protecting migratory rice farmers in rural southeastern Tanzania against indoor-biting and outdoor-biting mosquitoes. Read More

Environ Pollut 2020 Jan 11;256:113420. Epub 2019 Nov 11.

Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Steinmetz Hall, 970 Natural Area Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.

Pesticide exposure is regarded as a contributing factor to the high gross loss rates of managed colonies of Apis mellifera. Pesticides enter the hive through contaminated nectar and pollen carried by returning forager honey bees or placed in the hive by beekeepers when managing hive pests. We used an in vitro rearing method to characterize the effects of seven pesticides on developing brood subjected dietary exposure at worse-case environmental concentrations detected in wax and pollen. Read More

Chemosphere 2020 Apr 18;244:125388. Epub 2019 Nov 18.

Environmental Futures Research Institute and Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, QLD, 4215, Australia. Electronic address:

Measurement of sulfide in pore waters is critical for understanding biogeochemical processes, especially within coastal sediments. Here we report the development of a new colorimetric DET (diffusive equilibration in thin films) technique for determining mm-resolution, two-dimensional sulfide distributions in sediment pore waters. This colorimetric sulfide DET method was based on the standard spectrophotometric methylene blue assay, but modified to allow quantitation of sulfide by computer imaging densitometry. Read More

Indian J Pediatr 2020 01 4;87(1). Epub 2019 Dec 4.

Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India.

J Sci Food Agric 2020 Mar 20;100(4):1541-1546. Epub 2019 Dec 20.

Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India), Thanjavur, India.

Background: Citrus sinensis, Allium sativum, Ocimum basilicum, Mentha spicata, Curcuma longa, Carica papaya, Andrographis paniculata, Azadirachta indica, Cymbopogon citratus and Acorus calamus were compared in the form of extracts of chloroform, hexane and aqueous media for their effectiveness in repelling Tribolium castaneum. Filter paper of 9 cm in diameter was cut into halves. Using a micro-pipette, each extract was applied to one half of the filter paper. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2020 Feb 22;189:109988. Epub 2019 Nov 22.

Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, The M.S. University of Baroda, Vadodara, 390002, Gujarat, India. Electronic address:

Tribolium casteneum is a major stored grains pest causing huge loss by secreting toxic quinones' which make the grains unfit for human consumption. Increasing concern about the fast-growing resistance in T. casteneum against fumigants has evoked more intense research worldwide. Read More

J Insect Sci 2019 Nov;19(6)

Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.

Increased concerns regarding the safety of many chemicals used as insecticides or repellents, together with the development of resistance by insects to various insecticides, have led to the search for new active natural ingredients. For what we believe is the first time, that is monitored the efficiency of neem oil (Azadirachta indica) as a repellent against adult Aedes albopictus directly in the field. To test the efficacy of repellency against adults, treatments were performed (5 ml/l) in six different locations. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 11 22;13(11):e0007822. Epub 2019 Nov 22.

Human Health Theme, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya.

Background: Tungiasis is a neglected tropical skin disease caused by the female sand flea (Tunga penetrans), which burrows into the skin causing intense pain, itching and debilitation. People in endemic countries do not have access to an effective and safe home treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of a traditionally used and readily available mixture of neem and coconut oil for treatment of tungiasis in coastal Kenya. Read More

Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2020 ;21(4):341-351

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, 125001, Haryana, India.

Background: Citronella Oil (CO) was used by the Indian army as mosquito repellant to repel mosquitoes at the beginning of the 20th century and later in 1948, it was registered in the USA for commercial purposes. Due to its ecofriendly nature, CO possesses immense potential as a mosquito repellent.

Methods: Citronella oil is a valuable alternative to synthetic mosquito repellents commonly used nowadays. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2019 Dec 19;26(35):36048-36054. Epub 2019 Nov 19.

Beijing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Protection and Utilization, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, No. 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing, 100875, China.

The essential oils (EOs) from aerial parts of Saussurea amara (L.) DC. (SAEO) and Sigesbeckia pubescens Makino (SPEO) were analyzed for their chemical composition by GC-MS, and their repellent activities against adults of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum Herbst, as well as the booklouse, Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel, were evaluated for the first time. Read More

Insects 2019 Oct 25;10(11). Epub 2019 Oct 25.

Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, OH 44691, USA.

The overuse of insecticides with limited modes of action has led to resistance in mosquito vectors. Thus, insecticides with novel modes of action are needed. Secondary metabolites in Madagascan plants of the genus (Canellaceae) are commonly used in traditional remedies and known to elicit antifeedant and toxic effects in insect pests. Read More

Pest Manag Sci 2020 May 4;76(5):1626-1638. Epub 2019 Dec 4.

State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.

Background: The Apolygus lucorum is one of the most destructive insect pests in China with a wide range of host plants. Interaction of A. lucorum with surrounding environment heavily relies on chemical communication. Read More

BMC Vet Res 2019 Nov 9;15(1):404. Epub 2019 Nov 9.

Phytomedicine Programme, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, Pretoria, 0110, South Africa.

Background: Many studies have revealed that bioactive compounds for different indications are not extracted from plants with water, the only extractant practically available to rural communities. We compared the acaricidal activity of acetone extracts of 13 species used traditionally to protect cattle against ticks. We also investigated if the extraction of biologically active compounds against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus ticks could be enhanced by adding a liquid soap that is locally available to smallholder farmers. Read More