VOLATILE CONSTITUENTS OF CHAROPHYTES AS OVIPOSITION DETERRENTS OF CULEX PIPIENS PALLENS (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

Four populations of charophytes (including three species), Chara inconnexa T. F. Allen (populations 1 and 2), C. vulgaris L., and Nitellopsis obtusa (Desv.) J. Groves, were studied for effective chemicals as oviposition deterrents of Culex pipiens pallens. The charophyte volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were retained in Tenax GR, subsequently desorbed using a thermal desorption cold trap injector (TCT), and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to elucidate that charophytes have repellent properties. C. inconnexa (1) and C. inconnexa (2) exhibited strong repellent activities, and C. vulgaris showed some repellent activity against C. pipiens pallens with terpenes and benzothiazole playing major roles, while N. obtusa lacked those compounds and did not have an effect. These results suggest that charophytes have potential application as pesticides, but there are interspecific differences. In addition, benzene hydrocarbons were among the volatiles in Chara but not in N. obtusa, implying that some charophytes could be used to absorb these compounds.