Ionic liquids based stored product insect antifeedants

Abstract

Ionic liquids are effective stored product insect antifeedants. Their activity depends on the type of cation and anion. A group of ionic liquids with inorganic (nitrate, nitrite, hydrogen sulphite, dihydrogen phosphate, thiocyanate, phosphate and tripolyphosphate) and organic (propionate, citrate, sorbate, undecylate, dodecylbenzenesulfonate, acesulfamate and saccharinate) anions was synthesized. Their physicochemical properties, microbial and deterrent activity against Tribolium confusum (larvae and beetles), Sitophilus granarius (beetles) and Trogoderma granarium (larvae) were determined. Ionic liquids with a didecyldimethylammonium cation demonstrated deterrent activity, exceeding the activity of the standard, azadirachtin. The compounds proved to be very effective against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The appropriate selection of the cation and anion allows the design of economic and effective insect antifeedants. Ionic liquids based insect antifeedants provide novel examples of promising management tools in biorational approaches to stored product pest control.