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The Cockroach Connection—Ancient, Seemingly Indestructible Pest

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The Cockroach Connection—Ancient, Seemingly Indestructible Pest Current Comments@ EUGENE GARFIELD INSTITUTE FOR SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION(9 3W1 MARKET ST PHILADELFI+A PA 19104 The Cockroach Connection—Ancient, Seemingly Indestructible Pest. Part 2. Population Control, or: “Dr. Djerassi, How Do You (let Them to Take the Pill’?” Number 46 November 12, 1990 In Part 1, we examined the edcroach’s morphology and behavior and the link to allergic reactions in humans. In Part 2, we examine how scientists are attacking the problem of cockroach infestations via pesticides and artificial analogs of the insect’s hormones and pheromones. Four Cirdon Cfassics@J relating to research on cockroach development and gnnwh are discussed, and lSI@ research-front data highlight activity in cdcmach control. Declaring War on Roaches down less easily. Many of the pyrethroids are much more active than the natural pyre- The cockroach is one of the most vilified thrins (some 1,000 times more) and, unlike insects known to mart. In the US more than the natural pyrethrins, are stable in sunlight. $1.5 billion was spent in 1989 on consumer In contrast, because of their instability in pesticide products to get rid of cdroaches, sunlight, the natural pyrethrins cannot be the single largest expenditure for a pest in used on field crops. Permethrin was the the country. 1 Let’s take a look at what this first sunlight-stable commercial pyrethroid.3 money is spent on and at the eradica- Many insects have developed a resistance tion/control efforts of insect researchers in to pyrethrins and pyrethroids (synthetic de- the laboratory. rivatives of pyrethrins). According to Clive Scientists are attacking the problem of A. Henrick, Sandoz Crop Protection Re- cockroach infestations in three ways: by search Division, Palo Alto, California, gen- using chemicals that attack the roach’s cen- eral insect resistance is becoming wide- tral nervous system, by using those that spread,3 with the cockroach fast becoming mimic the insect’s itormone/endocrine sys- one of the insects that is resistant.4 Consid- tem (causing disruptions in the life cycle), ering that each generation of roaches fol- and by using artificially synthesized phero- lows itself in quick succession (survivors monai attractants to draw cockroaches to passing on their resistance to offspring), this sex-bait traps where they get stuck in a .giue comes as no surprise. and die. The organophosphates constitute another category of insecticides used on roaches. Chemical Pesticides These include chemicals called cftior- pyriphox, malathion, diazinon, and dichior- One of the oldest insecticides known to vos (also known as DDVP). These chemi- man is pyrethrum. Pyrethrin insecticides cals work by inhibiting the enzyme are derived from pyrethrum flowers. such as choiinesterase. This causes nerves to stimu- chrysanthemums. The aromatic flower late muscles continuously. Some organo- heads are powdered or extracted with sol- phosphates are fairly toxic to mammals, vents, and the resultant substances are con- while others, including malathion, are of tact poisons and nerwe toxins for inseets.2 iow toxicity and break down rapidfy.5 Because natural pyrethrins are unstable and The carbamates, inciuding hendioearh and expensive, chemists have produced syn- propoxur, encompass another category of thetic pyrethroids that mimic the natural py- roach insecticide. Carbamates are used rethrins. These are more stable and break most frequently in over-the-counter sprays 413 ~lgure 1: Historiographs of research fronts on chemical inwticktes. Numben at the bottomof ewh box indicate numbersof cordciting papers. m /l pyrethroids ~,2~ 10172 and professional applications because they secticide applications “do not significantly act within minutes=ne of the quickest act- affect German cockroach population dis- ing contact poisons. These have the same persal or movement patterns within apart- mode of action as the organophosphates. ments.’~ Another chemical group is composed of Another recent study looked at the perfor- inorganic dusts. These include silica gel mance of consumer roach bait products. It and boric acid. These are cafled “mechani- found that, of all those avaiIable, hydra- cal” insecticides because they kill the methybron (the active ingredient in Combat roaches by dehydration. Boric acid also roach traps) “has the greatest potential for works as a stomach ~ison, but is toxic to field effectiveness. Only hydramethylnon pets and humans.s The inorganic dusts lose significantly reduced German cockroach their effectiveness in humid weather. But populations,’6 Hydramethyhron is a chemi- when combined with pyrethrins, they are cal that affects the cell’s ability to convert used as an agent to flush cockroaches from food into energy. The net result is that the their hiding places. insect eats the chemical, slowly runs out of The number of chemicals, however, that energy, falls asleep, and dies.’ cockroaches are becoming resistant to is growing. In one recently published study of insecticides and their effects on the German Repellents: Shoo, Roach, Don’t cockroach, S.J. Barcay and colleagues, Bother Me! Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, found that pyrethrins, diazinon, permethrin, I don’t think that anyone would argue that and propoxur in lethal quantities “did not we ‘d prefer cockroaches to stay outdoors. induce any significant changes in cockroach As for ways of making these insects leave distribution.” With sublethal doses, the (instead of exterminating them), there have roaches “settled to their original distribution been numerous suggestions, ranging from 24 hours after treatment.” Results from old home remedies, such as cucumbers and both experiments indicate that thorough in- bay leaves, 8 to highly touted high-tech 414 -, .- I 1 1 1 ~ activitystudies of I pyrethroids I 3/30 —- t , ware, such as ultrasound. The high-pitched Gainesville scientists hope to determine noise, according to proponents, drives away what conditions the insects need to thrive— all sorts of insect pests, including cock- whether in the attic, among the insulation, roaches. Unfortunately, studies show that or in the walls. From these data, it may German cockroaches enter “ultrasound- become possible through new home con- treated rooms as readily as they [do] un- struction techniques to repel cockroaches. treated rooms.”9 To date, scientists have found that roaches On the biochemical front, scientists report thrive in areas of stagnant air and high hu- that synthetic and nahmdiy occurring chem- midity, and that they avoid dry, ventilated icals both have repdent properties, accord- environments. ing to controlled studies on the German and the American cockroach. The synthetic Cockroach Biochemistry and Ci&ation chemicals include amides, sulfonamides, Classic@’ : Putting Roaches on the Pill carboxamides, and cyanoacetic acids. Natu- rally occ urnng chemicals include plant oils In addition to synthetic and naturally oc- from the Japanese mint and Scotch spear- curring pesticides, scientists seek to control mint. 10 Usua]lY, these repellents are used in cockroaches through the insect’s own bio- concert with insecticides to achieve the chemical reactions. Studying these reac- greatest deterrent effect. tions helps insect researchers understand There may be a better. nonchemical sokl- how cockroaches mature from egg to tion to the cockroach infestation problem, nymph to adult. The studies also provide however—build better houses! At the US hints as to where artiticiai mimics of the Department of AL@xritore laboratory in hormone regulators of these reactions might Gainesville, Florida, entomologists are be used to disrupt the cockroach’s develop- monitoring cockroach activity in a specially mental and behavioral processes. built attic in an effort to understand what The road to manipulating the cockroach’s factors control cockroach movement. 11 In biological processes actually began nearly this building 100 sensors and probes set at 40 years ago, when entomologists discov- various locations measure humidity, temper- ered that a series of proteins which affect atures inside insulation and wood, airflow egg yolk production in vertebrates also ap- patterns, as well as roach distribution and peared in insects. 12 In the following de- activity (via proximity sensors and video). cades, studies on how these proteins affect 415 Figure 2: Htstoriograph of research fmnfs on coctuwach sex pheromones. Numbersat the fmuomof each tw. indicatenumks of corelcitmgpapers 86-5308 Wtttig rearrangement and synthesis of American r cockroach sex pheromone 5/45 — egg production and insect nymph growth In his 1979 commentary 17 on the 1951 l;~ t; efforts to identify and rnanipurate in- vitellogenin discovery and resulting review sect hormones. Many of the discoveries papr,lz W.H. Telfer, University of Pennsyl- dealing with these insect hormones took vania, Philadelphia, noted that vitellogene- place in the late 1960s and 1970s.13-’5 sis studies came into their own during the mid- 1960s with the discovery of the organ- The Discovery of Insect Vitellogenins elle for vitellogenin transport, as well as when the endocrinological community con- We have four Cifation Classics that fol- centrated their efforts on this field. low the development of this interesting branch of entomology. 12-’5 Although they The VitellogenintEcdysone Hormone are not specifically on cmkroaches, the Connection commentmies are generally applicable. They begin in 1951 with the discovery of While vitellogenesis was discovered in the egg yolk proteins called vitellogenins, the
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