Compounds, Compositions and Methods for Attracting and/or Arresting Bed Bugs

Abstract

Disclosed is a six-component composition of volatile and less-volatile pheromone components that can be used alone or in combination with other compounds to attract and/or arrest bed bugs of both sexes and all developmental stages. This blend can be used to bait traps that are effective in capturing bed bugs in infested premises or can be combined with a pesticide that is lethal to bed bugs.

1 . A composition for attracting and/or arresting blood-feeding insects comprising histamine. 
     
     
         2 . A composition according to  claim 1  further comprising volatile compounds. 
     
     
         3 . A composition according to  claim 2  wherein the volatile compounds comprise sulfides, aldehydes and ketones 
     
     
         4 . A composition according to  claim 3  wherein the volatile compounds comprise dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-octenal and 2-hexanone. 
     
     
         5 . A composition according to  claim 4  comprising, by weight, 0.5-99% dimethyl disulfide, 0.5-99% dimethyl trisulfide, 0.5-99% (E)-2-hexenal, 0.5-99% (E)-2-octenal and 0.5-99% 2-hexanone. 
     
     
         6 . A composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 , further comprising an effective amount of one or more additional compounds. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6  wherein the additional compounds can be selected from the group consisting of butanal, pentanal, hexanal, benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, acetophenone, verbenone, ethyl octanoate, methyl octanoate, pentyl hexanoate, dimethylaminoethanol, N-acetylglucosamine, L-3-hydroxykynurenine O-sulfate, L-valine, L-alanine, octanal, nonanal, decanal, (E,E)-2,4-octadienal, (E,Z)-2,4-octadienal, benzyl acetate, (+)-limonene, (−)-limonene, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (sulcatone), geranylacetone, carbon dioxide, 1-octen-3-ol, L-carvone, L-lactic acid, proprionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, lauric acid, capric acid, myristic acid, androstenone, 3-methyl indole, 1-docosanol, pentadecanoic acid, squalene, cholesterol, and 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol. 
     
     
         8 . A composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  7  wherein the histamine is a histamine base. 
     
     
         9 . A composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  8  formulated as a granule, powder, dust, paste, gel, suspension, emulsion or liquid solution. 
     
     
         10 . A composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  9  formulated as a slow-release lure. 
     
     
         11 . A composition according to  claims 1  to  10  wherein the histamine is formulated as a slow-release lure. 
     
     
         12 . A composition according to  claims 4  to  11  wherein the blend of dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-octenal and 2-hexanone is formulated as a slow-release lure. 
     
     
         13 . A composition according to  claim 6  or  7  wherein the blend of dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-octenal and 2-hexanone combined with the effective amount of the one or more additional compounds are formulated as a slow-release lure, wherein the one or more additional compounds are selected from the group consisting of butanal, pentanal, hexanal, benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, acetophenone, verbenone, ethyl octanoate, methyl octanoate, pentyl hexanoate, dimethylaminoethanol, N-acetylglucosamine, L-3-hydroxykynurenine O-sulfate, L-valine, L-alanine, octanal, nonanal, decanal, (E,E)-2,4-octadienal, (E,Z)-2,4-octadienal, benzyl acetate, (+)-limonene, (−)-limonene, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (sulcatone), geranylacetone, carbon dioxide, 1-octen-3-ol, L-carvone, L-lactic acid, proprionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, lauric acid, capric acid, myristic acid, androstenone, 3-methyl indole, 1-docosanol, pentadecanoic acid, squalene, cholesterol, and 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol. 
     
     
         14 . A composition for attracting and/or arresting bed bugs wherein the active ingredient of the composition essentially consists of histamine. 
     
     
         15 . A composition for attracting and/or arresting bed bugs wherein the active ingredient of the composition essentially consists of dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-octenal and 2-hexanone. 
     
     
         16 . A composition for attracting and/or arresting bed bugs wherein the active ingredient of the composition essentially consists of histamine, dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-octenal and 2-hexanone. 
     
     
         17 . A composition for attracting and/or arresting bed bugs wherein the active ingredient of the composition essentially consists of dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-octenal and 2-hexanone combined with an effective amount of one or more additional compounds selected from the group consisting of butanal, pentanal, hexanal, benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, acetophenone, verbenone, ethyl octanoate, methyl octanoate, pentyl hexanoate, dimethylaminoethanol, N-acetylglucosamine, L-3-hydroxykynurenine O-sulfate, L-valine, L-alanine, octanal, nonanal, decanal, (E,E)-2,4-octadienal, (E,Z)-2,4-octadienal, benzyl acetate, (+)-limonene, (−)-limonene, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (sulcatone), geranylacetone, carbon dioxide, 1-octen-3-ol, L-carvone, L-lactic acid, proprionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, lauric acid, capric acid, myristic acid, androstenone, 3-methyl indole, 1-docosanol, pentadecanoic acid, squalene, cholesterol, and 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol. 
     
     
         18 . A composition for attracting and/or arresting bed bugs wherein the active ingredient of the composition essentially consists of histamine, dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-octenal and 2-hexanone combined with an effective amount of one or more additional compounds selected from the group consisting of butanal, pentanal, hexanal, benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, acetophenone, verbenone, ethyl octanoate, methyl octanoate, pentyl hexanoate, dimethylaminoethanol, N-acetylglucosamine, L-3-hydroxykynurenine O-sulfate, L-valine, L-alanine, octanal, nonanal, decanal, (E,E)-2,4-octadienal, (E,Z)-2,4-octadienal, benzyl acetate, (+)-limonene, (−)-limonene, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (sulcatone), geranylacetone, carbon dioxide, 1-octen-3-ol, L-carvone, L-lactic acid, proprionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, lauric acid, capric acid, myristic acid, androstenone, 3-methyl indole, 1-docosanol, pentadecanoic acid, squalene, cholesterol, and 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol. 
     
     
         19 . A method of attracting and/or arresting blood-feeding insects, comprising providing a composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  18  at a desired location. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19  wherein the histamine is provided in a slow-release device comprising an absorbent material impregnated with the histamine. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein the absorbent material is a cellulose mat. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to any one of  claims 19  to  21  wherein dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-octenal and 2-hexanone are provided in a slow-release device comprising a gas-permeable sealed reservoir loaded with the dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-octenal and 2-hexanone. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to any one of  claims 19  to  21  wherein dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-octenal and 2-hexanone and one or more additional compounds are provided in a slow-release device comprising a gas-permeable sealed reservoir loaded with the dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-octenal and 2-hexanone and the one or more additional compounds, wherein the one or more additional compounds are selected from the group consisting of butanal, pentanal, hexanal, benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, acetophenone, verbenone, ethyl octanoate, methyl octanoate, pentyl hexanoate, dimethylaminoethanol, N-acetylglucosamine, L-3-hydroxykynurenine O-sulfate, L-valine, L-alanine, octanal, nonanal, decanal, (E,E)-2,4-octadienal, (E,Z)-2,4-octadienal, benzyl acetate, (+)-limonene, (−)-limonene, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (sulcatone), geranylacetone, carbon dioxide, 1-octen-3-ol, L-carvone, L-lactic acid, proprionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, lauric acid, capric acid, myristic acid, androstenone, 3-methyl indole, 1-docosanol, pentadecanoic acid, squalene, cholesterol, and 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to any one of  claims 19  to  23  wherein the blood-feeding insect is the common bed bug,  Cimex lectularius , or the tropical bed bug,  C. hemipterus.    
     
     
         25 . A method according to any one of  claims 19  to  24 , wherein the desired location is in, on or near a bed bug control device. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the bed bug control device is a detector, monitor or trap. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 26 , wherein the slow-release devices of any one of  claims 19  to  22  are placed in the detector, monitor or trap. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to any one of  claims 19  to  27  further comprising combining the composition with a source of heat. 
     
     
         29 . A method according to any one of  claims 19  to  27  further comprising combining the composition with a source of carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to any one of  claims 19  to  27  further comprising combining the composition with a pesticide that is lethal to bed bugs. 
     
     
         31 . Use of histamine for attracting and/or arresting blood-feeding insects. 
     
     
         32 . Use of dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-octenal and 2-hexanone for attracting and/or arresting blood-feeding insects. 
     
     
         33 . Use of dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-octenal and 2-hexanone combined with an effective amount of one or more additional compounds selected from the group consisting of butanal, pentanal, hexanal, benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, acetophenone, verbenone, ethyl octanoate, methyl octanoate, pentyl hexanoate, dimethylaminoethanol, N-acetylglucosamine, L-3-hydroxykynurenine O-sulfate, L valine, L-alanine, octanal, nonanal, decanal, (E,E)-2,4-octadienal, (E,Z)-2,4-octadienal, benzyl acetate, (+)-limonene, (−)-limonene, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (sulcatone), geranylacetone, carbon dioxide, 1-octen-3-ol, L-carvone, L-lactic acid, proprionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, lauric acid, capric acid, myristic acid, androstenone, 3-methyl indole, 1-docosanol, pentadecanoic acid, squalene, cholesterol, and 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol for attracting and/or arresting blood-feeding insects. 
     
     
         34 . Use of histamine, dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-octenal and 2-hexanone combined with an effective amount of one or more additional compounds selected from the group consisting of butanal, pentanal, hexanal, benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, acetophenone, verbenone, ethyl octanoate, methyl octanoate, pentyl hexanoate, dimethylaminoethanol, N-acetylglucosamine, L-3-hydroxykynurenine O-sulfate, L valine, L-alanine, octanal, nonanal, decanal, (E,E)-2,4-octadienal, (E,Z)-2,4-octadienal, benzyl acetate, (+)-limonene, (−)-limonene, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (sulcatone), geranylacetone, carbon dioxide, 1-octen-3-ol, L-carvone, L-lactic acid, proprionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, lauric acid, capric acid, myristic acid, androstenone, 3-methyl indole, 1-docosanol, pentadecanoic acid, squalene, cholesterol, and 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol for attracting and/or arresting blood-feeding insects. 
     
     
         35 . Use according to any one of  claims 31  to  34  wherein the blood-feeding insect is the common bed bug,  Cimex lectularius , or the tropical bed bug,  C. hemipterus.    
     
     
         36 . Use of a composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  18  for attracting and/or arresting blood-feeding insects. 
     
     
         37 . Use of a composition according to  claim 36  for attracting and/or arresting the common bed bug,  Cimex lectularius , or the tropical bed bug,  C. hemipterus.