Repellency of p-anisaldehyde against Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) in the laboratory

Authors: Showler, Allan; Harlien, Jessica

Submitted to: Journal of Medical Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/2/2021
Publication Date: 5/27/2021
Citation: Showler, A., Harlien, J.L. 2021. Repellency of p-anisaldehyde against Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) in the laboratory. Journal of Medical Entomology. 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjab097.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjab097

Interpretive Summary: The house fly is a nuisance pest often associated with livestock production, and it can also mechanically transmit the causal agents of human and veterinary diseases. We found that a 0.5% concentration of p-anisaldehyde, produced by many plants consumed by humans, repelled adult M. domestica under laboratory conditions for at least 24 h, but by 48 h the repellency had worn off. Repellency, however, was not observed in response to 0.5% p-anisaldehyde that had been under sunlight radiation lamps for 2 h. When p-anisaldehyde was aged in darkness for 48 h, it showed strong initial repellency for <1 h. The repellent action of 0.5% p-anisaldehyde was sufficient to keep adult M. domestica from landing on three different food sources when it was sprayed onto the food sources, and when it was placed in proximity to, but not in contact with, the food sources. Extension of p-anisaldehyde’s repellent action using solvents other than acetone might be possible.

Technical Abstract: The house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), is a nuisance pest often associated with livestock production, and it can also mechanically transmit the causal agents of human and veterinary diseases. We found that a 0.5% concentration of p-anisaldehyde, produced by many plants consumed by humans, repelled adult M. domestica in static air olfactometer tubes under laboratory conditions for at least 24 h, but by 48 h the repellent activity had worn off. Repellency, however, was not observed in response to 0.5% p-anisaldehyde that had been exposed to sunlight radiation lamps for 2 h. When p-anisaldehyde was aged in darkness for 48 h, it showed strong initial repellency for <1 h. The repellent action of 0.5% p-anisaldehyde was sufficient to keep adult M. domestica from landing on three different food sources when the botanical substance was misted onto the food sources, and when it was placed in proximity to, but not in contact with, the food sources. Extension of p-anisaldehyde’s repellent action using solvents other than acetone is discussed.