Use of Starch Granules Enriched with Carvacrol for the Lesser Mealworm, <i>Alphitobius diaperinus</i> Control in Chicken House: Effects on Insects and Poultry

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of starch granules enriched with carvacrol and mixed with straw pellets (as poultry litter) on the mortality of larvae and adults of the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer, a cosmopolitan pest inhabiting chicken houses in vast numbers worldwide. Additionally, the effect of starch granules on the growth parameters and survival of broiler chickens exposed to treated litter was examined. In this study, granules containing 3, 5, and 10% carvacrol was used. In a simulated chicken house bioassay, this material was mixed with pellets in three different proportions: 30/70%, 40/60%, and 50/50% (granules/pellets, respectively). On this medium, young larvae (approximately 10 days old), older larvae (last stage before pupa), and unsexed 7-10 days old adults of the lesser mealworm, with access to food, were colonized. Experiments were performed at 29 °C in the dark. The study shows that poultry litter with the addition of starch granules enriched with 10% of carvacrol in the proportion of 40:60% (granules:pellets) appears to be the optimal medium applicable to broiler houses for A. diaperinus control. In this environment, all larvae and adults died within 3-4 days and the overall development of the experimental chickens was similar to that of the control. However, the feed conversion rate was slightly higher in the treated group (1.72) than in the control group (1.56). The average final body weight in the treated group was 100 g lower than that in the control group (the differences were not statistically significant).

A preliminary study of the poultry body weight effect of carvacrol in litter and of carvacrol residue in organ tissue of exposed chickens

“…Additionally, water was used as a starch modifier because it limits the upper processing temperature (27). Our earlier study also proved that 5% carvacrol is enough to protect chickens from insects such as the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer (24).…”

“…Carvacrol is an essential oil which has very strong antifungal, antiviral and antimicrobial effects and can reduce the population of parasites responsible for gastrointestinal diseases (1,5,6,11,17,19,22,30). Our previous studies also showed that carvacrol significantly impaired the growth and development of Alphitobius diaperinus larvae and is toxic to this pest (24). Because of carvacrol's properties, it was selected as a litter additive to assess whether the addition of it may have a beneficial impact on the efficiency of nutrition and on the health status and condition of animals.…”

“…Carvacrol and thymol also have insecticidal activity against the brown-winged cicada ( Pochazia shantungensis ), which damages fruit trees ( 19 ). Due to carvacrol’s very strong antifungal, anti-insect, antiviral and antimicrobial effects and limiting action on the population of parasites responsible for gastrointestinal diseases, it has been selected as a poultry litter additive ( 1 , 5 , 6 , 11 , 17 , 19 , 24 ).…”

Suscetibilidade de populações de Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer, 1797) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) a cipermetrina em granjas de frango de corte no Estado do Paraná

“…A complexidade das condições internas das instalações, biologia e comportamento da praga, bem como a presença das aves, tornam as medidas de controle mais restritivas e são aspectos que propiciam baixa eficiência nos métodos de controle utilizados (RODRIGUES, 2019;SZCZEPANIK et al, 2020). Nesse sentido, apenas o emprego de medidas como, remoção e/ou substituição de partes úmidas da cama (cascão), remoção do excesso de esterco e retirada de aves mortas, não são suficientes para redução significativa das populações infestantes (RODRIGUES, 2019).…”

“…Devido à influência negativa sobre as aves nos galpões, normalmente as medidas curativas de controle são efetuadas durante o vazio sanitário entre os lotes de frango que são geralmente fundamentadas no uso de inseticidas, principalmente químicos sintéticos à base de piretroides e organofosforados (ALVES, et al, 2006;FERREIRA, 2018;SOUZA et al, 2020;SZCZEPANIK et al, 2020).…”