Spinosad Affects Chemical Communication in the German Cockroach, Blatella germanica (L).

Abstract

Spinosad is a biopesticide, derived from fermentation by the soil-dwelling actinomycete, Saccharopolyspora spinosa, which is used to control a variety of insects. Spinosad kills a wide range of insect pests when ingested or topically applied, by overexciting the nervous system, yet is harmless to mammals and many predatory insects. Other modes of action of this insecticide have not been documented. Here, we report that a non-lethal dose of spinosad causes adult male and female German cockroach, Blattella germanica, to exhibit altered responses to their aggregation pheromone as well as to have a changed cuticular hydrocarbon profile.

Topical Toxicity of Spinosad and Its Impact on the Enzymatic Activities and Reproduction in the CockroachBlatta orientalis(Dictyoptera: Blattellidae)

“…Compared to azadirachtin, spinosad presents a higher efficacy against B. orientalis when used for the same period of treatment (Tine et al 2011). The toxicological effect of spinosad confirms previous reports when used against B. germanica (Habachi et al 2009) and Bombus terrestris (2011). Spinosad acts by the physiological perturbation of the target organism (Salgado 1998).…”

“…It was reported that the naturally derived insecticidal spinosad is one among the toxic products 0.072 ± 0.0038 a 0.050 ± 0.0025 b when applied topically against insects Flinn et al 2004;Habachi et al 2009). This product presented a high toxicity against many orders of insects such as Lepidoptera pests (Toews & Subramanyam 2003) and Coleoptera (Galvan et al 2005) and could cause the mortality of the endoparasitoid larvae of Hyposoterdi dymator (Schneider et al 2004).…”

“…)/kg of grain by Japan and Australia (Hertlein et al 2011). The toxicological effect of spinosad with behavioural alterations was reported against B. germanica (Habachi et al 2009). …”

“…Further, the indiscriminate use of neurotoxic insecticides causes various environmental aspects and toxic effects to non-target organisms (Long 2000). These side effects have stimulated the development of new and safer agents to control these pests (Phillips et al 2010;Habachi et al 2009;Habes et al 2013).…”

Chironomus riparius Proteome Responses to Spinosad Exposure

“…Insect cuticle is composed of cuticular proteins and chitin, key components of insect exoskeleton and crucial for molting and development [59]. Although cuticular penetration of spinosad is expected to be relatively slow [29], alterations on the arthropod Blattella germanica cuticle hydrocarbon profile due to spinosad exposure have been reported before [60]. The downregulation of cuticle proteins may interfere with cuticle permeability and molting and consequently with the growth and reproduction of arthropods [61].…”