Nootkatone is a repellent for Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus).
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.
Zhu
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BC
Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA.
Henderson
G
G
Chen
F
F
Maistrello
L
L
Laine
R A
RA
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
D007302:Insect Repellents; D000081223:Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C050302:nootkatone