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

ORTEGA INSAURRALDE, ISABEL; TOLOZA, ARIEL CEFERINO; GONZALEZ AUDINO, PAOLA; MOUGABURE CUETO, GASTÓN; ALVAREZ COSTA, AGUSTÍN; ROCA ACEVEDO, GONZALO; PICOLLO, MARÍA INÉS

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOC AMER

Lugar: Lanham; Año: 2015 vol. 52

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 selected conditions of temperature, humidity and light to study the effects of cypermethrin and DEET on the locomotor activity of head lice. Head lice increased their locomotor activity in an arena at 30°C compared with activity at 20°C. When we tested the influence of the humidity level, the locomotor activity of head lice showed no significant differences related to humidity level both at 30°C and 20°C. Concerning light influence, we observed that the higher the intensity of light the slower the movement of head lice. We also demonstrated that sublethal doses of toxics may alter locomotor activity in adults of head lice. Sublethal doses of cypermethrin induced hyperactivated responses in adult head lice. Sublethal doses of DEET evocated hipoactivated responses in head lice. The observation of stereotyped behaviour in head lice elicited by toxic compounds proved that measuring locomotor activity in an experimental set-up where environmental conditions are controlled would be appropriate to evaluate compounds of biological importance such as molecules involved in the host-parasite interaction and intraspecific relationships.