Antifeedant activity of citrus waste wax and its fractions against the dry wood termite, Cryptotermes brevis

Abstract

The wood protective action of citrus wax, a waste from the citrus industry that is a mixture of citrus fruit epicuticular waxes and essential oils, was evaluated against the termite Cryptotermes brevis Walker (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae). The antifeedant index (AI) of the total wax and fractions was calculated. The total citrus wax exhibited an AI 50 value of 24.69 mg/cm 3, the wax after hydrodistillation showed the strongest antifeedant property (AI 50 11.68 mg/cm 3). Fractionation of the wax and gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis allowed the identification of coumarins and furancoumarins as the active compounds. These results suggest the potential use of these industrial residues as a natural approach to termite control.