title: myo-Inositol and Phytate Are Toxic to Formosan Subterranean Termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae).
abstract: Several rare and common monosaccharides were screened for toxic effects on the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, with the aim of identifying environmentally friendly termiticides. myo-Inositol and phytic acid, which are nontoxic to mammals, were identified as potential termite control compounds. Feeding bioassays with termite workers, where both compounds were supplied on filter paper in concentrations from 160.2 to 1,281.7 μg/mm(3), showed concentration-dependent toxicity within 2 wk. Interestingly myo-inositol was nontoxic when administered to termites in agar (40 mg/ml) in the absence of a cellulosic food source, an unexplained phenomenon. In addition, decreased populations of termite hindgut protozoa were observed upon feeding on myo-inositol but not phytate-spiked filter paper. Radiotracer feeding studies using myo-inositol-[2-(3)H] with worker termites showed no metabolism after ingestion over a 2-d feeding period, ruling out metabolites responsible for the selective toxicity.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.
authors: Lucas
authors: L
authors: Veillon
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.
authors: Jared
authors: J
authors: Bourgeois
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Leblanc
authors: Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.
authors: Gregg
authors: G
authors: Henderson
authors: Department of Experimental Statistics, Louisiana State University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.
authors: Brian D
authors: BD
authors: Marx
authors: Department of Biology, Xavier University, New Orleans, LA 70125.
authors: Syed
authors: S
authors: Muniruzzaman
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. rogerlaine@gmail.com.
authors: Roger A
authors: RA
authors: Laine
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007294:Inositol; D007300:Insect Control; D007306:Insecticides; D020049:Isoptera; D010833:Phytic Acid
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D007294:Inositol; D010833:Phytic Acid
keywords: Coptotermes formosanus; carbohydrate; myo-inositol; sugar; termite