title: Behavioral activity of catnip (Lamiaceae) essential oil components to the German cockroach (Blattodea: Blattellidae).
abstract: The essential oil of catnip, Nepeta cataria L., contains two isomers of nepetalactone, E,Z-and Z,E-nepetalactone, and was tested for repellent activity to adult male German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.), in a choice-test arena. The two isomers of nepetalactone were purified by using preparative thin-layer chromatography and tested for behavioral activity in the choice-test arena. Significant differences due to concentration were detected by analysis of variance, and the responses were compared by least-squared means analysis. The activities of the essential oil and purified isomers were compared with N,NA-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) by a paired t-test. E,Z-Nepetalactone was the most active of the compounds tested, being significantly more active to this species than equivalent doses of DEET, the essential oil, or Z,E-nepetalactone. Antennectomized insects showed no response to concentrations that were active against intact insects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames 50011, USA.
authors.forename: Chris J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Leah T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Nemetz
authors.forename: Leah M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Joel R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Coat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001681:Biological Assay; D020048:Blattellidae / Q000187:drug effects*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D000081004:Cyclopentane Monoterpenes; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003671:DEET / Q000494:pharmacology; D007300:Insect Control / Q000379:methods*; D007302:Insect Repellents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019686:Lamiaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011753:Pyrones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000081004:Cyclopentane Monoterpenes; D003517:Cyclopentanes; D007302:Insect Repellents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D011753:Pyrones; D003671:DEET; C115644:nepetalactone