Evaluation of the practicability of hinokitiol as a repellent against the cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae)

Abstract

The strong repellency of hinokitiol (β-thujaplicine) to the cigarette beetle was reported in a previous paper. In this study, the practicability of using hinokitiol as a repellent against the beetle was evaluated. The effect of hinokitiol on the behavioral response of the beetle to food-attractant lure was observed with a video system. The frequency of the beetle approaching the hinokitiol-treatment filter paper on which a food-attractant lure was placed was much less than that to the control filter paper. The resident time on the treatment paper was also much less than that on the control paper. Filter paper tapes treated with hinokitiol prevented the beetles from entering the sticky trap with food-attractant lure when the tapes were attached near the entrance of the trap. Furthermore, repellency of hinokitiol was evaluated in a semi-field test. Tapes treated with hinokitiol attached around the openings of the cardboard boxes containing cured tobacco leaves prevented the beetles from entering the boxes. The number of beetles entering the treatment boxes was less than half that of the control boxes. It appears that hinokitiol is a useful repellent against the cigarette beetle.