BEHAVIORAL EFFECT OF LOBULARIA MARITIMA'S VOLATILES ON AE. AEGYPTI.

S. VON OPPEN; H. MASUH; S.LICASTRO; ZERBA, EDUARDO; P. GONZÁLEZ AUDINO

melbourne

Conferencia; 28th International Chemical Ecology Conference; 2013

Aedes Aegypti is considered the main vector of yellow and dengue fever, due to its ample distribution around tropical and subtropical areas, matched with its antropophilic habitat and blood feeding choices. Hematophagous behavior of the female Ae. Aegypti is imperative in order to complete its reproductive cycle.  Besides that, both gender consume external sugar sources in order to maintain their energetic balance. To achieve this, they will have to rely on carbohydrate sources present in the domestic environment, mostly in the way of garden and ornamental plants. The goal of this work was to identify possible feeding attracting plants and to determine the behavioral response of their volatile compounds. The plants evaluated in a two-choice feeding assay were: T. patula, P. neochilus and L. maritima. The experiment was designed to evaluate feeding preference by tying the plant to a toxic bait against a sucrose solution as a control. Preference was determined by recording mortality at 24h. From the plants tested, only L. maritima showed a positive response. Volatiles from L. maritima were collected by SPME (DVB/CAR/PDMS) fiber and analysed afterwards in a GC-MS. Volatile compounds were identified by injection of the standard, determination of the Kovats index and/or by comparing the mass spectrum against a library. The identified headspace volatile compounds of L. maritima were :  Allyl isothiocyanate, 3-butenyl isothiocyanate, benzeneacetaldehyde, acetophenone,  1-octanol,  4-pentenyl isothiocyanate,  benzeneethanol, 4,5-epithiovaleronitrile, benzeneacetonitrile,  4-methylpentyl isothiocyanate,  hexyl isothiocyanate, 5,6-epithiohexylnitrile, 4-vinyl 2-methoxy phenol and benzyl isothiocyanate. Available compounds were tested for behavioral effect on Ae. Aegypti in a dual choice Y-olfactometer; females had a statistical significant response to acephenone and 1-octanol, while males responded only to acetophenone.