Reiner Pospischil

Activity of novel juvenoids on arthropods of veterinary importance.

Different juvenile hormone mimics were compared regarding their efficacy against larval and pupal stages of the diptera Aedes aegypti, Musca domestica, and Lucilia cuprina as well as the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis. Structure-activity relationship of a series of new diphenylethers was analyzed and compared to juvenoids like methoprene, hydroprene, and fenoxycarb. Selected compounds were taken for a competition binding assay and their effect on JH-degradation by esterases was examined. The results indicate that neither high affinity to JH-binding proteins nor interference with JH breakdown are responsible for the extraordinary efficacy of the diphenylethers investigated. Two superior diphenylethers, however, proved to be more resistant to UV-radiation than methoprene.

Future Strategies for European Pest Management

Global warming together with global trade and tourism gives foreign organisms many opportunities to enter Europe and to find suitable habitats to establish themselves. A number of these species already have the status of pests in their native countries and are now starting to be a major concern in Europe. However, particularly in industrial countries there is growing rejection by the public of the use of synthetic insecticides. The use of these insecticides is restricted, e.g., in food production, by new national and European directives, and pest management is limited to monitoring and the use of baits in the presence of foodstuffs. The consequences for scientific research and for the pest control industry are to invest in insecticides with a novel action with special focus on user-friendly and eco-friendly properties. Existing resistance of pests to frequently used insecticides should be overcome by the development of compounds which interfere with the metabolism and nervous system of arthropods in ways different from those of conventional insecticides. Additionally, new monitoring systems are required which will also detect alien species. Completely new control strategies without short-acting insecticides and baits which can be used without risk of contaminating the environment should be developed particularly for sensitive areas such as food production, pharmacies, and hospitals. Countries with a high diversity of vegetation (e.g., tropical rainforests) will be of major significance in the research and development of natural compounds for pest control in the future.