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Original Articles

Ethyl acetate: a possible alternative for anaesthetizing insects

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Pages 422-424 | Accepted 11 Dec 2009, Published online: 31 May 2013
 

Abstract

In order to anaesthetize insects in a laboratory, chilling and application of diethyl ether and carbon dioxide are commonly used. However none of the above methods is problem free. In particular, the use of diethyl ether, despite its simplicity, is now limited due to its poor safety. In our research, we evaluated ethyl acetate as an alternative anaesthetic substance. The effects of ethyl acetate anaesthesia were compared with those produced by carbon dioxide on adult green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). The biological parameters measured were longevity and fecundity. No significant differences appeared between the two treatments and the control. Although further research is necessary, the use of ethyl acetate proves to be very promising and presents a valid alternative to the use of diethyl ether and, in many cases, also to carbon dioxide and chilling.

Résumé

L’acétate d’éthyl : une alternative possible pourl’anesthésie des insectes. Pour l’anesthésie des insectes en laboratoire, on utilise souvent la réfrigération, l’éther ethylique ou le dioxyde de carbone. Aucune de ces méthode n’est toutefois sans problème. L’utilisation d’éther éthylique, en particulier, en dépit de sa simplicité, est maintenant limitée pour des raisons de sécurité. Les effets de l’acétate d’éthyl ont été comparés ici avec ceux induits par le dioxyde de carbone sur des adultes de chrysopes (Neuroptera : Chrysopidae). Les paramètres biologiques mesurés ont été la longévité et la fécondité. Aucune différence significative n’est apparue entre les deux traitements et le contrôle. Bien que des recherches plus approfondies restent nécessaires, l’usage d’acétate d’éthyl se révèle très prometteur et il constitue une alternative valide à l’éther éthylique, et même au dioxyde de carbone et à la réfrigération.

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