Targeting Cuticular Components for Pest Management
The insect exoskeleton is present as a rigid structure above a monolayer of epidermal cells and together both form the integument. The cuticle is composed of an outer, multilayered epicuticle and an inner procuticle containing the chitinous exo- and endo-
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Targeting Cuticular Components for Pest Management Daniel Doucet and Arthur Retnakaran
Abstract The insect exoskeleton is present as a rigid structure above a monolayer of epidermal cells and together both form the integument. The cuticle is composed of an outer, multilayered epicuticle and an inner procuticle containing the chitinous exo- and endo- cuticle. The non-living cuticle is replaced during each instar to accommodate growth and development by sequentially degrading the old cuticle and replacing it with a new one. The entire molting cycle and the shedding of the old cuticle are precisely regulated by a series of endocrine and neuroendocrine cues. This chapter addresses the various cuticular components, cuticular metabolism and cuticular biogenesis regulatory systems that have been targeted for pest management. Major classes of synthetic compounds, including benzoylphenyl ureas, benzoyl hydrazines and etoxazole that target chitin synthesis and the molting cycle are presented. In addition, we focus on recent developments toward the targeting of additional components of the cuticle or processes of cuticle biogenesis that may find future applications in pest management.
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Introduction
Insects and humans compete for the same resources such as food crops and lumber as well as many of them serve as vectors of human diseases like malaria. This age old conflict has been the impetus that led to the development of ways and means of controlling insects. As early as 2500 BC the Sumerians used sulfur compounds to control insects (Perry et al. 1998). The development of chlorinated hydrocarbons such as DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichlorethane) revolutionized insect control by efficient performance against agricultural pests as well as saving thousands of lives from malaria. The indiscriminate and large scale use of DDT led to collateral damage on non-target species and was highlighted by Rachel Carson in her epic book “Silent Spring”, in 1962. This singular event has been a major catalyst for the D. Doucet (*) • A. Retnakaran Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, 1219 Queen St. East, Sault Ste Marie, ON P6A 2E5, Canada e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] © Crown Copyright 2016 E. Cohen, B. Moussian (eds.), Extracellular Composite Matrices in Arthropods, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-40740-1_10
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development of successive generations of insecticides that are less harmful to the environment (Berry-Caban 2011). Insects have various cells, tissues and organ systems that are either unique or that exhibit differences with those of other taxa in terms of their ontology or metabolism. These differences, even if subtle, can offer opportunities for pest management. One defining structure of insects is the exoskeleton which they share with other arthropods. The exoskeleton acts as a defensive shield against predators, parasites and microbial infections, forms a watertight barrier against desiccation and maintains sensory interaction with the
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