Susceptibility of environmentally friendly sheep wool insulation panels to the common clothes moth tineola bisselliella in laboratory assays

Abstract

In this study the resistance opposed to Tineola bisselliella larvae by a commercial sheep-wool panel incorporating borate salts was determined under laboratory conditions. The susceptibility of clothes moth larvae to different concentrations of disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT) incorporated in pure wool was also determined. The commercial wool panel showed a remarkable resistance to moth attack compared with pure untreated wool, and the damage to panel samples was limited to their surface. As a result of bioassays exposing larvae to pure wool treated with DOT, a concentration dependent effect was observed, achieving a good efficacy at an application rate between 40–100 mg/mL. This study highlights the need to protect wool-based construction material with appropriate insecticidal (antifeedant or repellent) substances and supports the development of eco-sustainable solutions.