title: Nootkatone is a repellent for Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus).
abstract: We examined the behavior of Formosan subterranean termites toward one of the components of vetiver grass oil, the roots of which manufacture insect repellents. We found nootkatone, a sesquiterpene ketone, isolated from vetiver oil is a strong repellent and toxicant to Formosan subterranean termites. The lowest effective concentration tested was 10 micrograms/g substrate. This is the first report of nootkatone being a repellent to insects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA.
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maistrello
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Laine
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001681:Biological Assay; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D007302:Insect Repellents / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000633:toxicity; D020049:Isoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D000081223:Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D007302:Insect Repellents; D000081223:Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C050302:nootkatone