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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Biological Control of Pests Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #153823
Title: DEET REPELS HARMONIA AXYRIDIS(PALLAS)(COLEOPTERA:COCCINELLIDAE)ADULTS IN LABORATORY BIOASSAYS

Author
item Riddick, Eric
item Aldrich, Jeffrey
item Davis, John

Submitted to: Journal of Entomological Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/13/2004
Publication Date: 9/13/2004
Citation: Riddick, E.W., Aldrich, J.R., and Davis, J.C. Deet repels Harmonia axyridis(Pallas)(Coleoptera:Coccinellidae)adults in laboratory bioassays. J. Entomol. Sci. 39(3):373-385. 2004.

Interpretive Summary: The multicolored Asian lady beetle has become a nuisance pest to homeowners in North America in recent years because of the propensity of adults to enter houses in search of overwintering shelter. It was demonstrated that DEET repelled Asian lady beetles in laboratory arenas. DEET has good potential for repelling beetles under field conditions when mixed with compounds that prolong its repellent activity for one week or more. This research is relevant to homeowners as well as scientists in industry, government and academic institutions.

Technical Abstract: The potential of non-toxic compounds to repel adults of the multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), from homes and other man-made structures in the fall season was explored. Adults have the propensity to enter buildings and houses in search of overwintering shelter. Bioassays in olfactometers and Petri dishes were designed to test the hypothesis that DEET (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) can effectively repel H.axyridis adults. A bioassay in a Y-tube olfactometer indicated that beetles spent significantly less time in the test arm (DEET; 10, 100, and 1,000ug)than in the control arm (hexane blank) within a 10-min time frame. A bioassay in a 3-neck bulb-tube olfactometer indicated that significantly more beetles avoided the test arm (DEET,142 ug)than the control arm (hexane blank) within a 40-min time frame. A bioassay in a Petri dish revealed that significantly more beetles avoided filter paper disks treated with DEET (0.1 and 1.0 mg/cm2; aged for 1d or 5d) than acetone (the control) within a 60-min time frame. Finally, another bioassay in a Petri dish revealed that significantly more beetles avoided filter paper strips coated with DEET/paraffin (1% or 9% mixture, aged for 1d or 23d) than camphor/paraffin (0.1, 1 and 9% mixtures, aged for 1d or 23d), or paraffin alone (the control). This investigation suggests that DEET has good potential for repelling H.axyridis adults from structures.