Analysis of Cuticular Lipids of the Pharaoh Ant (Monomorium pharaonis) and Their Selective Adsorption on Insecticidal Zeolite Powders
The pharaoh ant is a notorious and hard to eradicate pest, which poses a threat in hospitals, spreading pathogens and contaminating sterile equipment. When applied on ants, zeolites adsorb part of their epicuticular wax layer. The ants are then vulnerable to desiccation, since this layer regulates w...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2018-09-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/19/9/2797 |
| _version_ | 1811314161417715712 |
|---|---|
| author | Heleen Van Den Noortgate Bert Lagrain Tom Wenseleers Johan A. Martens |
| author_facet | Heleen Van Den Noortgate Bert Lagrain Tom Wenseleers Johan A. Martens |
| author_sort | Heleen Van Den Noortgate |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The pharaoh ant is a notorious and hard to eradicate pest, which poses a threat in hospitals, spreading pathogens and contaminating sterile equipment. When applied on ants, zeolites adsorb part of their epicuticular wax layer. The ants are then vulnerable to desiccation, since this layer regulates water exchange. We analyzed the chemical composition of this wax layer using GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry). A hexane wash of M. pharaonis foragers resulted in the identification of 53 components, four of which were not previously defined in Monomorium species. Selective adsorption of specific compounds on zeolites assisted in the identification of compounds which could not be separated on the GC column and allowed for the identification of three additional compounds. Zeolites show different affinities for the wax compounds depending on pore structure and chemical composition. Selective adsorption of alkanes on zeolites is also investigated in the fields of refinery processes and catalysis. Pore mouth and key lock adsorption mechanisms and selectivity according to molecular weight and branching, investigated in these fields, are also involved in adsorption processes of epicuticular waxes. The insecticidal activity of a zeolite is related to adsorption selectivity rather than capacity. One of the best adsorbing zeolites showed limited insecticidal activity and can be considered as a non-lethal alternative for epicuticular wax sampling. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T11:06:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c6c5682960f94ca2b4d45841dfc8c173 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T11:06:58Z |
| publishDate | 2018-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-c6c5682960f94ca2b4d45841dfc8c1732022-12-22T02:49:15ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1422-00672018-09-01199279710.3390/ijms19092797ijms19092797Analysis of Cuticular Lipids of the Pharaoh Ant (Monomorium pharaonis) and Their Selective Adsorption on Insecticidal Zeolite PowdersHeleen Van Den Noortgate0Bert Lagrain1Tom Wenseleers2Johan A. Martens3Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Box 2461, 3001 Heverlee, BelgiumCentre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Box 2461, 3001 Heverlee, BelgiumLab of Socio-Ecology & Social Evolution, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, BelgiumCentre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Box 2461, 3001 Heverlee, BelgiumThe pharaoh ant is a notorious and hard to eradicate pest, which poses a threat in hospitals, spreading pathogens and contaminating sterile equipment. When applied on ants, zeolites adsorb part of their epicuticular wax layer. The ants are then vulnerable to desiccation, since this layer regulates water exchange. We analyzed the chemical composition of this wax layer using GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry). A hexane wash of M. pharaonis foragers resulted in the identification of 53 components, four of which were not previously defined in Monomorium species. Selective adsorption of specific compounds on zeolites assisted in the identification of compounds which could not be separated on the GC column and allowed for the identification of three additional compounds. Zeolites show different affinities for the wax compounds depending on pore structure and chemical composition. Selective adsorption of alkanes on zeolites is also investigated in the fields of refinery processes and catalysis. Pore mouth and key lock adsorption mechanisms and selectivity according to molecular weight and branching, investigated in these fields, are also involved in adsorption processes of epicuticular waxes. The insecticidal activity of a zeolite is related to adsorption selectivity rather than capacity. One of the best adsorbing zeolites showed limited insecticidal activity and can be considered as a non-lethal alternative for epicuticular wax sampling.http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/19/9/2797pest managementzeoliteswax adsorbentspharaoh ants |
| spellingShingle | Heleen Van Den Noortgate Bert Lagrain Tom Wenseleers Johan A. Martens Analysis of Cuticular Lipids of the Pharaoh Ant (Monomorium pharaonis) and Their Selective Adsorption on Insecticidal Zeolite Powders International Journal of Molecular Sciences pest management zeolites wax adsorbents pharaoh ants |
| title | Analysis of Cuticular Lipids of the Pharaoh Ant (Monomorium pharaonis) and Their Selective Adsorption on Insecticidal Zeolite Powders |
| title_full | Analysis of Cuticular Lipids of the Pharaoh Ant (Monomorium pharaonis) and Their Selective Adsorption on Insecticidal Zeolite Powders |
| title_fullStr | Analysis of Cuticular Lipids of the Pharaoh Ant (Monomorium pharaonis) and Their Selective Adsorption on Insecticidal Zeolite Powders |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analysis of Cuticular Lipids of the Pharaoh Ant (Monomorium pharaonis) and Their Selective Adsorption on Insecticidal Zeolite Powders |
| title_short | Analysis of Cuticular Lipids of the Pharaoh Ant (Monomorium pharaonis) and Their Selective Adsorption on Insecticidal Zeolite Powders |
| title_sort | analysis of cuticular lipids of the pharaoh ant monomorium pharaonis and their selective adsorption on insecticidal zeolite powders |
| topic | pest management zeolites wax adsorbents pharaoh ants |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/19/9/2797 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT heleenvandennoortgate analysisofcuticularlipidsofthepharaohantmonomoriumpharaonisandtheirselectiveadsorptiononinsecticidalzeolitepowders AT bertlagrain analysisofcuticularlipidsofthepharaohantmonomoriumpharaonisandtheirselectiveadsorptiononinsecticidalzeolitepowders AT tomwenseleers analysisofcuticularlipidsofthepharaohantmonomoriumpharaonisandtheirselectiveadsorptiononinsecticidalzeolitepowders AT johanamartens analysisofcuticularlipidsofthepharaohantmonomoriumpharaonisandtheirselectiveadsorptiononinsecticidalzeolitepowders |