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Insects
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New Formulations of Natural Substances against Insect Pests
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New Formulations of Natural Substances against Insect Pests

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450). This special issue belongs to the section "Insect Pest and Vector Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2024 | Viewed by 6991

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Barbara Conti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Interests: insects of foodstuff of agricultural and medical interest; bioactivity of botanical oils; essential oils in particular
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Priscilla Farina

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Interests: essential oils; vegetable oils; botanicals; chitosan; repellents; bioactivity; blowflies; stored foodstuff pests

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

In the previous Special Issue titled “Natural Substances against Insect Pests: Assets and Liabilities”, we indicated how parasites are largely controlled using synthetic pesticides and how their massive application has caused the emergence of resistant strains and adverse effects on the environment and human health. The first volume of the SI also dealt with many natural substances (NSs) recognized as insecticides, growth and/or reproduction inhibitors, lures, repellents, and oviposition deterrents towards insects. Anyway, although representing promising and ecological tools against harmful insects, NSs have significant limitations related to their formulation, stability, and costs. Based on the above, we would like to pursue such topics through a second Special Issue of Insects titled “New Formulations of Natural Substances against Insect Pests”. Thus, contributions (articles and reviews) on the following indicative topics are welcome:

  • NSs isolation, chemical and biochemical characterization, and formulation;
  • NSs as insecticides, growth and/or reproduction inhibitors, lures, repellents, and oviposition deterrents towards insect pests;
  • NSs’ mode (or modes) of action and potential induction of resistance in insects;
  • Risks and benefits associated with the use of NSs;
  • Regulatory and legislation issues related to the use of NSs.

Dr. Barbara Conti
Dr. Priscilla Farina
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at mdpi.longhoe.net by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • essential oils
  • natural substances
  • botanicals
  • insecticide
  • repellent
  • chitosan
  • sonication
  • encapsulation
  • formulation
  • stabilization

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 1884 KiB  
Article
Target Enzymes of Origanum majorana and Rosmarinus officinalis Essential Oils in Black Cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon): In Vitro and In Silico Studies
by Fatma S. Ahmed, Walid S. Helmy, Nawal Abdulaziz Alfuhaid and Moataz A. M. Moustafa
Insects 2024, 15(7), 483; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15070483 - 28 Jun 2024
Viewed by 237
Abstract
In this study, in vitro and in silico approaches were employed to assess the toxicity of marjoram (Origanum majorana) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) essential oils (EOs) to A. ipsilon larvae. The study determined the activities of ATPases in the [...] Read more.
In this study, in vitro and in silico approaches were employed to assess the toxicity of marjoram (Origanum majorana) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) essential oils (EOs) to A. ipsilon larvae. The study determined the activities of ATPases in the larvae after treatment with the LC20 and LC70 of each EO. α-esterase and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities were also determined after treatment with LC10 and LC30 of each EO. Furthermore, molecular docking was employed to determine the binding affinity of terpinene-4-ol and α-pinene, the major constituents of O. majorana, and R. officinalis EOs, respectively, compared to the co-crystallized ligand of α-esterase, diethyl hydrogen phosphate (DPF). Toxicity assays revealed that O. majorana EO was more toxic than R. officinalis EO to the A. ipsilon larvae at 96 h post-treatment. However, the LC20 and LC70 of the latter significantly inhibited the activity of the Na+-K+ pump at almost all intervals. The same concentrations significantly inhibited the Mg2+/Ca2+-ATPase and Ca2+ pump at 96 h post-treatment. In contrast, O. majorana EO showed a variable effect on the Na+-K+ pump across different time intervals. On the other hand, LC10 and LC30 of both EOs showed varied effects on α-esterase and GST over time. Molecular docking revealed energy scores of −4.51 and −4.29 kcal/mol for terpinene-4-ol and α-pinene, respectively, compared to a score of −4.67 for PDF. Our study demonstrated the toxicity of the tested EOs to A. ipsilon, suggesting their potential efficacy as insecticides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Formulations of Natural Substances against Insect Pests)
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16 pages, 2703 KiB  
Article
Efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae, Isolate ICIPE 7, against Anopheles arabiensis, Glossina fuscipes, and Rhipicephalus spp.
by Fedinand Ong’wen, Margaret Mendi Njoroge, Ulrike Fillinger, Heike Lutermann and Tullu Bukhari
Insects 2024, 15(6), 449; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15060449 - 13 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1017
Abstract
Arthropod vectors are responsible for a multitude of human and animal diseases affecting poor communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Their control still relies on chemical agents, despite growing evidence of insecticide resistance and environmental health concerns. Biorational agents, such as the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium [...] Read more.
Arthropod vectors are responsible for a multitude of human and animal diseases affecting poor communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Their control still relies on chemical agents, despite growing evidence of insecticide resistance and environmental health concerns. Biorational agents, such as the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, might be an alternative for vector control. Recently, the M. anisopliae isolate ICIPE 7 has been developed into a commercial product in Kenya for control of ticks on cattle. We were interested in assessing the potential of controlling not only ticks but also disease-transmitting mosquitoes and tsetse flies using cattle as blood hosts, with the aim of develo** a product for integrated vector management. Laboratory bioassays were carried out with M. anisopliae, isolate ICIPE 7 and isolate ICIPE 30, to compare efficacy against laboratory-reared Anopheles arabiensis. ICIPE 7 was further tested against wild Glossina fuscipes and Rhipicephalus spp. Dose–response tests were implemented, period of mosquito exposure was evaluated for effects on time to death, and the number of spores attached to exposed vectors was assessed. Exposure to 109 spores/mL of ICIPE 7 for 10 min resulted in a similar mortality of An. arabiensis as exposure to ICIPE 30, albeit at a slower rate (12 vs. 8 days). The same ICIPE 7 concentration also resulted in mortalities of tsetse flies (LT50: 16 days), tick nymphs (LT50: 11 days), and adult ticks (LT50: 20 days). Mosquito mortality was dose-dependent, with decreasing LT50 of 8 days at a concentration of 106 spores/mL to 6 days at 1010 spores/mL. Exposure period did not modulate the outcome, 1 min of exposure still resulted in mortality, and spore attachment to vectors was dose-dependent. The laboratory bioassays confirmed that ICIPE 7 has the potential to infect and cause mortality to the three exposed arthropods, though at slower rate, thus requiring further validation under field conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Formulations of Natural Substances against Insect Pests)
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11 pages, 517 KiB  
Article
Ethyl Formate Fumigation against Pineapple Mealybug, Dysmicoccus brevipes, a Quarantine Insect Pest of Pineapples
by Tae Hyung Kwon, Dong-Bin Kim, Bongsu Kim, Joanna Bloese, Byung-Ho Lee and Dong H. Cha
Insects 2024, 15(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15010025 - 2 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1314
Abstract
Pineapple mealybug, Dysmicoccus brevipes (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is a significant pest in pineapple production and a key trade barrier. We explored the potential use of ethyl formate (EF) as a methyl bromide alternative for the postharvest fumigation of D. brevipes in imported pineapples. When [...] Read more.
Pineapple mealybug, Dysmicoccus brevipes (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is a significant pest in pineapple production and a key trade barrier. We explored the potential use of ethyl formate (EF) as a methyl bromide alternative for the postharvest fumigation of D. brevipes in imported pineapples. When treated at 8 °C for 4 h, EF fumigation was effective against D. brevipes with LCt99, the lethal concentration × time product of EF necessary to achieve 99% mortality of D. brevipes nymphs and adults at 64.2 and 134.8 g h/m3, respectively. Sorption trials conducted with 70 g/m3 EF for 4 h at 8 °C using 7.5, 15 and 30% pineapple loading ratios (w/v) indicated that loading ratio lower than 30% is necessary to achieve the LCt99 values required to control D. brevipes. In a scaled up trial using 1 m3 chamber, EF fumigation with 70 g/m3 for 4 h at 8 °C with 20% pineapple loading ratio (w/v) resulted in a complete control of D. brevipes treated. There were no significant differences in hue values, sugar contents, firmness, and weight loss between EF-treated and untreated pineapples. Our results suggest that EF is a promising alternative to methyl bromide fumigation for the postharvest phytosanitary disinfection of D. brevipes in pineapples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Formulations of Natural Substances against Insect Pests)
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17 pages, 2179 KiB  
Article
In Vivo Bioassay of the Repellent Activity of Caraway Essential Oil against Green Peach Aphid
by Jessica Girardi, Kristīne Berķe-Ļubinska, Ieva Mežaka, Ilva Nakurte, Gundars Skudriņš and Laura Pastare
Insects 2023, 14(11), 876; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14110876 - 14 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1406
Abstract
An in vivo dual choice bioassay with white cabbage as a host plant was used to determine the repellent effect of three different accessions of caraway (Carum carvi L.) essential oils (EOs) against the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer). The dominant [...] Read more.
An in vivo dual choice bioassay with white cabbage as a host plant was used to determine the repellent effect of three different accessions of caraway (Carum carvi L.) essential oils (EOs) against the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer). The dominant components of the EO were D-Carvone (47.3–74.4%) and D-limonene (25.2–51.9%), which accounted for 99.2–99.5% of the EOs determined by GC/MS. The EO with the highest D-limonene content (51.9%) showed the highest repellence (Repellency Index (RI) = +41%), which was stable up to 330 min. The incorporation of several surfactants with different hydrophilic-lipophilic balance values (from 12.4 to 16.7) with caraway EO caused a general inhibition of the repellent effect during the testing period (RI from +41% to −19%). Overall, the findings indicate that caraway EO could be used as a green peach aphid repellent, but more work is needed to formulate the EO into a ready-to-use product. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Formulations of Natural Substances against Insect Pests)
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Review

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16 pages, 1161 KiB  
Review
Chitosan as a Control Tool for Insect Pest Management: A Review
by Linda Abenaim and Barbara Conti
Insects 2023, 14(12), 949; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14120949 - 15 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2409
Abstract
Chitosan, a polysaccharide derived from the deacetylation of chitin, is a versatile and eco-friendly biopolymer with several applications. Chitosan is recognized for its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and non-toxicity, beyond its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antitumoral activities. Thanks to its properties, chitosan is used in many [...] Read more.
Chitosan, a polysaccharide derived from the deacetylation of chitin, is a versatile and eco-friendly biopolymer with several applications. Chitosan is recognized for its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and non-toxicity, beyond its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antitumoral activities. Thanks to its properties, chitosan is used in many fields including medicine, pharmacy, cosmetics, textile, nutrition, and agriculture. This review focuses on chitosan’s role as a tool in insect pest control, particularly for agriculture, foodstuff, and public health pests. Different formulations, including plain chitosan, chitosan coating, chitosan with nematodes, chitosan’s modifications, and chitosan nanoparticles, are explored. Biological assays using these formulations highlighted the use of chitosan–essential oil nanoparticles as an effective tool for pest control, due to their enhanced mobility and essential oils’ prolonged release over time. Chitosan’s derivatives with alkyl, benzyl, and acyl groups showed good activity against insect pests due to improved solubility and enhanced activity compared to plain chitosan. Thus, the purpose of this review is to provide the reader with updated information concerning the use and potential applications of chitosan formulations as pest control tools. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Formulations of Natural Substances against Insect Pests)
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