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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Invasive Insect Biocontrol & Behavior Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #367500
Research Project: Prevention of Arthropod Bites

Location: Invasive Insect Biocontrol & Behavior Laboratory

Title: Behavioral activity of methyl benzoate against bed bug adults

Author
item LARSON, NICHOLAS - Towson University
item Strickland, Jaime
item Zhang, Aijun
item Feldlaufer, Mark

Submitted to: Journal of Entomological Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/22/2019
Publication Date: 7/27/2020
Citation: Larson, N.R., Strickland, J.A., Zhang, A., Feldlaufer, M.F. 2020. Behavioral activity of methyl benzoate against bed bug adults. Journal of Entomological Science. 55(3):344-349.

Interpretive Summary: Bed bug behavior is often overlooked, when bed bug control agents are discovered. In this report, we evaluate a botanical compound for its behavioral action on the common bed bug, and now report it has repellent action. This information is useful for travelers not wanting to unwittingly bring bed bugs home form a overnight stays, and for industry designing repellent products against bed bugs.

Technical Abstract: We evaluated a botanical compound methyl benzoate, previously shown to have insecticidal activity on several agricultural pests. for its behavioral action on the common bed bug Cimex lectularius L. Methyl benzoate, along with acetophenone and Cirkil™, all exhibited repellent action against individual adult bed bugs in an Ethovision video system designed to track movement of individuals. The ramifications of using methyl benzoate as a repellent are discussed.