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Nootkatone Is a Repellent for Formosan Subterranean Termite (Coptotermes formosanus)

Journal of Chemical Ecology volume 27, pages 523–531 (2001)Cite this article

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 μg/g substrate. This is the first report of nootkatone being a repellent to insects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803

    Betty C. R. Zhu & Roger A. Laine

  2. Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70803

    Gregg Henderson, Feng Chen & Lara Maistrello

Authors
  1. Betty C. R. Zhu
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  2. Gregg Henderson
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  3. Feng Chen
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  4. Lara Maistrello
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  5. Roger A. Laine
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Zhu, B.C.R., Henderson, G., Chen, F. et al. Nootkatone Is a Repellent for Formosan Subterranean Termite (Coptotermes formosanus). J Chem Ecol 27, 523–531 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010301308649

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010301308649

  • Vetiveria zizanioides
  • vetiver oil
  • sesquiterpenes
  • ketones