Discovery and development of natural product-based technologies for pest management

Authors: Zhu, Junwei - Jerry

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/14/2018
Publication Date: 8/12/2018
Citation: Zhu, J.J. 2018. Discovery and development of natural product-based technologies for pest management.[abstract] International Society of Chemical Ecology. p.373.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Plant derivatives and botanical insecticides have been used against arthropods in agricultural and urban settings for at least two millennia in ancient world. For instance, use of botanical repellents has become one of the most efficient ways to prevent disease transmission and the discomfort of insect bites for both human and animals. However, many most of plant-based repellents are short-lived in their effectiveness, primarily due to their high volatility. Recently, we discovered one food-grade natural product that can provide repellency lasting up to 2 weeks, and their major ingredient compounds are GRAS substances and safe. In the present presentation, I will introduce one short-lived, but with extremely strong repellency plant essential oil; and another tropical fruit essential oil derivative that provides week-long repellency against various types of biting insects. Both repellents can not only deter the blood-feeding from biting flies, ticks, mosquitoes and bed bugs, and also act as a bio pesticide inhibit their larval growth. The strength of repellency from those natural products is even stronger than the golden standard, universal insect repellent, DEET (N,N-Diethyl-3-methyl-benzamide). Easy-used formulations developed for practical applications will also be discussed.