Effects on an artificial sweetener on the water balance of the German cockroach (Blattodea: Ectobiidae)

Monday, November 14, 2022

8:24 AM – 8:36 AM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 109

Presenting Author(s)

SL

Shao-Hung Lee

PhD Student
University of California
Riverside, California

Co-Author(s)

Dong-Hwan Choe

Associated CE Specialist / Associate Professor
University of California
Riverside, California
Michael K. Rust

Retired Professor of Entomology
University of California
Riverside, California
Chow-Yang Lee, BCE

Professor & Endowed Presidential Chair in Urban Entomology
University of California
Riverside, California

Artificial sweeteners are non-nutritive sugar substitutes typically found in dietary products. Certain sweeteners that cause deleterious physiological effects on insects have received attention as potential safe alternatives to conventional insecticides. In the German cockroach (Blattella germanica [L.]), prolonged ingestion of an artificial sweetener causes mortality after intoxication effects resembling uncontrolled regurgitation or excretion of alimentary contents. Dehydration is likely the cause of death in the treated insects.