Canadian Forest Service Publications

Biocidal effects of fatty acid salts on various forest insect pests. 1978. Puritch, G.S. Pages 105-112 (Chapter 10) in J.J. Kabara The pharmacological effect of lipids. American Oil Chemists' Society, Champaign, Illinois, USA.

Year: 1978

Issued by: Pacific Forestry Centre

Catalog ID: 2009

Language: English

Availability: Not available through the CFS (click for more information).

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Abstract

The potassium salts of fatty acids were screened for their biocidal effects on several species of forest pests, including balsam woolly aphid (Adelges piceae (Ratzburg)), spruce gall aphid (Adelges cooleyi (Gillette)), western blackheaded budworm (Acleris gloverana (Walsingham)), western spruce budworm (Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman), false hemlock looper (Nepytia freemani Monroe), forest-tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria Hubner), and Douglas-fir tussock moth (Orgyia pseudotsugata McDonnough). For almost all species, the most effective salts for causing mortality were centered around potassium (K) oleate (C18:1) in the unsaturated C18 salts and, with the exception of the two budworms around K caprate (C10) in the shorter chain saturated salts. In addition to contact toxicity, fatty acid salts were also found to affect insect development of Tenebrio molitor. Data on the practical use of soaps to control natural field infestations of two forest pests are presented.