Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The objectives of this project are (1) to characterize biologically active materials that attract bed bugs either to each other for mating or to their hosts, and (2) to test these chemicals in the field to develop an efficient monitoring trap for bed bugs in both poultry production facilities and human habitats. Initially, it was important to establish a bed bug colony that could be used for volatile collections. This was accomplished and volatiles were collected by various methods, including solid phase microextraction (SPME). Research then was conducted to determine if a coupled gas chromatograph-electroantennogram (GC-EAD) system could be used for indicating chemicals that are potentially biologically active. GC-EAD is employed extensively on a world-wide basis to identify the sex pheromones or plant volatiles involved in these behaviors. Previous researchers have reported that recording from the bed bug antenna is not good. A large effort was spent in developing an EAD system that would work for the bed bug. A behavioral assay system also was constructed of four still-air olfactometers for use in choice tests involving bed bugs to evaluate any compounds and blends indicated to have biological activity. Additionally, a previously reported bed bug aggregation pheromone was formulated and assayed in still-air olfactometers. Headspace volatiles were then collected from live chicks and chickens and assayed with an improved GC-EAD technique. Compounds eliciting an EAD response will be assayed for attractant activity in poultry production facilities. PARTICIPANTS: This was a joint project between Geneva and Ithaca. The Ithaca team consisted of Dr. Rutz, A. Taisey and C. Strong were responsible for maintaining the bed bug colony, providing live chickens for volatile collections, and conducting behavioral assays in the laboratory and chicken houses with compounds exhibiting EAD activity. The Geneva team consisted of Drs. Roelofs, Robbins and Cha were responsible for volatile collections and assaying the extracts with bedbug antennae by GC-EAD. Paul S. Robbins, Ph.D. electrophysiology and chemistry; Dong Cha, Ph.D. electrophysiology and chemistry; Allison Taisey, M.S. bed bug information specialist and trainer; Wendell L. Roelofs, Ph.D chemist; co-PI Donald Rutz, Ph.D. veterinary entomology and co-PI Colleen Strong, Technician. TARGET AUDIENCES: The goal of this project is to develop an attractant for bed bugs for use in poultry production facilities. This targets stakeholders who are involved in chicken egg or meat production. Organic or sustainable practices may preclude the use of any pesticides or pesticides with the residual properties necessary for long-term control of bed bugs. A working chemical attractant would be extremely useful in poultry production facilities in monitoring, disrupting or trapping bed bugs. In a very real sense, the target audiences are both those who produce and those who buy because both will benefit from the use of less reliance on chemical pesticides. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
A bed bug colony was established from a poultry production facility and live chickens were then used as hosts for bed bug feeding in the lab. Research with volatiles collected from bed bugs was not successful in defining compounds not already published mainly due the inability to obtain EAD responses from the bed bug antenna. A large effort was made to get the EAD technique to work on this species. Our trials included the use of various individual saline solutions and mixtures, the testing of different antennal preparations (whole head with both antennae, whole head with one antenna, excised antenna with tip in place, excised antenna with cut tip) and the testing of several signal amplifiers that were designed for several insect groups. Finally, sensitive antennal responses were obtained from bed bug antennae with the use of a new amplifier design. Research was then focused on volatiles from chicks and chickens. Volatiles were collected for 3 hrs. in glass or plastic containers fitted with charcoal filters using live chickens. The filters were extracted with methylene chloride and the extract assayed with bed bug antennae and GC-EAD. The improved amplifier design made it possible to identify 8 potential biologically active compounds that elicited antennal responses at concentrations below 5 ng. The compounds are all related to meaty fatty chicken odor. Behavioral assays with various combinations of these compounds are needed before development of a monitoring trap for chicken houses.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The objectives of this project are (1) to characterize biologically active materials that attract bed bugs either to each other for mating or to their hosts, and (2) to test these chemicals in the field to develop an efficient monitoring trap for bed bugs in both poultry rearing and human habitats. In this first year it was important to establish a bedbug colony that could be used for volatile collections. This was accomplished and volatiles were collected by various methods, including SPME. Research then was conducted to determine if a coupled gas chromatograph-electroantennogram (GC-EAD) system could be used for indicating chemicals that are potentially biologically active. GC-EAD is employed extensively on a world-wide basis to identify the sex pheromones or plant volatiles involved in these behaviors. To date, GC-EAD techniques have not proved useful in identifying semiochemicals (either sex pheromones or aggregation pheromones) important to the bedbug, Cimex lectularius. Our trials included the use of various individual saline solutions and mixtures, the testing of different antennal preparations (whole head with both antennae, whole head with one antenna, excised antenna with tip in place, excised antenna with cut tip) and the testing of several signal amplifiers that were designed for several insect groups. Our GC-EAD experiences mirror those of researchers in two other universities researching this insect with negative results using this technique. A behavioral assay system was constructed of four still-air olfactometers for use in choice tests involving bedbugs. A previously reported bedbug aggregation pheromone was formulated and assayed in still-air olfactometers. Headspace volatiles were then collected from live chickens and will be assayed with bedbugs in choice tests using the aggregation pheromone both with and without the chicken volatiles to determine if host volatiles play a role in host finding. PARTICIPANTS: Paul S. Robbins, Ph.D. electrophysiology and chemistry; Allison Taisey, M.S. bedbug information specialist and trainer; Wendell L. Roelofs, Ph.D chemist;and co-PI Donald A. Rutz, Ph.D. veterinary entomology and co-PI TARGET AUDIENCES: Our work here at Cornell targets stakeholders who are involved in poultry egg or meat production. Organic or sustainable practices may preclude the use of any pesticides or pesticides with the residual properties necessary for long-term control of bed bugs. A working chemical attractant would be extremely useful in poultry production facilities in monitoring, disrupting or trapping bed bugs. In a very real sense, the target audiences are both those who produce and those who buy because both will benefit from the use of less reliance on chemical pesticides. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
To provide efficacy information on products being used by cooperating poultry farmers, organic pesticides were tested in the lab. The following products were tested: Ecotrol EC, Beauveria bassiana fungus, Kleen Free, Pyganic Pro, Powder Guard. None of the products tested had the residual effect that would make them a viable option in a farming system. In the coming year, further beauveria tests will be done in cooperation with the supplier. Using a bed bug-specific fungus would provide a killing method with minimal risk to people, livestock, and the environment.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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