Toxicity of newly isolated piperideine alkaloids from the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, against the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer)

Authors: RASHID, TAHIR - Alcorn State University; Chen, Jian; MCLEOD, PAUL - University Of Arkansas

Submitted to: Advances in Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2013
Publication Date: 9/1/2013
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/61868
Citation: Rashid, T., Chen, J., McLeod, P. 2013. Toxicity of newly isolated piperideine alkaloids from the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, against the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer). Advances in Entomology. 1(2):20-23. doi.org/10.4236/ae.2013.12005.

Interpretive Summary: The green peach aphid is a major insect pest of many agronomic and horticultural crops worldwide. Since aphid control is often based on synthethic insecticides, the aphid has developed resistance to many of synthetic insecticides. Fire ant venom alkaloids have shown activity against many organisms including fungi, bacteria, mites and several insects. ARS scientists have recently isolated and identified a new group of fire ant venom alkaloids. To test whether or not these alkaloids are active against the green peach aphid, scientists from the Extension/Research Demonstration Farm, Alcorn State University, Mound Bayou, MS; the Biological Control of Pest Research Unit, USDA, ARS, Stoneville, MS; and the Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, measured the contact toxicity of fire ant alkaloids to green peach aphid. The results demonstrate that fire ant alkaloids are toxic to green peach aphid. These alkaloids may offer an opportunity to develop novel and effective aphid management technologies.

Technical Abstract: The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), is a major insect pest of many agronomic and horticultural crops and is distributed worldwide Aphid management is often based on application of insecticides. However, the aphid is now resistant to many of these and much interest has recently developed in identification of novel alternative insecticides. Venom isolated from the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, is composed of two groups of alkaloids, piperidines and piperideines, and has shown activity against many organisms including fungi, bacteria, mites and several insects. Prior to the study reported herein, no information on the venom's activity to Myzus persicae has been reported. Both of the alkaloids were active against M. persicae. The 24 h lc50 values were 116.6 and 91.5 ppm for the piperideine and the piperidine extracts, respectively. Based on overlap of the 95% fiducial limits the LC50 values for the two alkaloids did not significantly differ. At the high dosages, mortality occurred in as few as four hours and all treated aphids were dead by six hours. Little additional mortality was detected in the 48-h observation. Both piperideine and piperidine extracts isolated from red imported fire ant venom possess sufficient activity to cause death of green peach aphids and at high dosages, death occurs rapidly. In the search for new replacements of synthetic insecticides, these extracts may offer a novel and potentially successful alternative.