Potential use of synthetic and natural aromatic mixtures in prevention from Shelfordella lateralis сockroaches

Abstract

Attractive and repellent properties of many household chemicals may be used to combat synantrophic insects, such as cockroaches. In the natural environment, Shelfordella lateralis (Walker, 1868) (Blattodea, Blattidae) lives in the area spanning Central Asia to North Africa. Furthermore, in many tropical and subtropical countries, it is common in human accomodations. In the laboratory conditions, we determined reaction of cockroaches to aromatic mixtures and medicinal plants often used in households. Attractiveness coefficient was the lowest for cosmetic mixtrures Tutti-fruti and Verbena and Bamboo; other cosmetic aromatizers did not repell this insect (Lilac, Mango) or repelled it poorly (Grapefruit, Amaretto, Pine). Food additives that significantly repelled Sh. lateralis are Apricot, Barberry and Kiwi and lower effects were produced by Biscuit, whereas Vanilla flavouring had no repellent effect. Mixtures for vaping Strawberry pie, Pear, Frozen forest, Irish Cream and Blue Magic exerted strong repellent effects on cockroaches. Low repellent effect on Sh. lateralis were exerted by vaping mixtures Pancakes with Honey, Turkish Tobacco and Grapefruit. No significant effects on the number of cockroaches were exerted by vaping mixtures Vanilla, Club Ice Cream, Blueberry Smoke, Mojito, Chocolate, Apple, Mint and Walnut. Out of the fishing lures, the strongest repellent effects on Sh. lateralis were taken by Blood Worm, Onion and Honey, and weaker effects were exerted by Corn and Vanilla. Imagoes of Sh. lateralis were most significantly repelled by essential oils from jojoba, eucalyptus, daisy, tee tree, Cao Sao Vang balsam, and also fir essential oil. Neither luring nor repellent effects on imagoes of Sh. lateralis were displayed by essential oils from lemon, aloe, peppermint and mandarin. Dry medicinal plants repelled imagoes of Sh. lateralis: inflorescences of Calendula officinalis, leaves of Artemisia absinthium, flowers of Jasminum officinale, leaves of Origanum vulgare, inflorescences of Matricaria chamomilla, inflorescences of Crataegus monogyna, leaves of Mentha x piperita, inflorescences of Achillea millefolium, leaves of Hypericum perforatum, leaves of Aristolochia clematitis and inflorescences of Tanacetum vulgare. No repellent effects on Sh. lateralis were exerted by Chelidonium majus, inflorescences of Tilia cordata and inflorescences of Helichrysum arenarium. Thus, most (40 of 58, or 69.0%) of the tested aromatic substances and medicinal plants repelled synantrophic Turkestan cockroach, while a much smaller share (31.0%) neither significantly lured nor repelled them. No aromatic mixtures attracted Sh. lateralis in our experiment.