Effect of environmental conditions and toxic compounds on the locomotor activity of Pediculus humanus capitis (Phthiraptera:Pediculidae).

I ORTEGA-INSURRALDE; A TOLOZA; P. GONZALEZ-AUDINO; G. MOUGABURE CUETO; A. ALVAREZ-COSTA; G. ROCA-ACEVEDO; M.I. PICOLLO

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOC AMER

Lugar: Lanham; Año: 2015 vol. 52 p. 1036 - 1042

0022-2585

In this work, we evaluated the effect of environmental variables such as temperature, humidity,and light on the locomotor activity of Pediculus humanus capitis. In addition, we used selectedconditions of temperature, humidity, and light to study the effects of cypermethrin and N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) on the locomotor activity of head lice. Head lice increased their locomotoractivity in an arena at 30C compared with activity at 20C. When we tested the influence of the humiditylevel, the locomotor activity of head lice showed no significant differences related to humidity level, bothat 30C and 20C. Concerning light influence, we observed that the higher the intensity of light, theslower the movement of head lice.We also demonstrated that sublethal doses of toxics may alter locomotoractivity in adults of head lice. Sublethal doses of cypermethrin induced hyperactivated responses inadult head lice. Sublethal doses of DEETevocated hypoactivated responses in head lice. The observationof stereotyped behavior in head lice elicited by toxic compounds proved that measuring locomotor activityin an experimental set-up where environmental conditions are controlled would be appropriate toevaluate compounds of biological importance, such as molecules involved in the host?parasiteinteraction and intraspecific relationships.