The synergistic effect of anethole, the main component of star anise oil, on the activity of abamectin (Vertimec 018 EC) against the lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer) was investigated. In the studies 1% acetone solutions of anethole and aqueous solutions of insecticide with increasing concentrations (0.0125; 0.025; 0.05; 0.1; 0.15; 0.2; 0.4%) were used. The experiments were conducted on 10-day and 20-day old larvae and young (7–10 day old) adults using an oral administration of compounds in four different treatments (insecticide alone, anethole alone, insecticide given simultaneously with anethole, insecticide application was preceded by a 3-day culture on diet treated with anethole). The experiments were carried out in the rearing chamber at 29°C in the dark. The results show that anethole have a synergistic effect on the activity of abamectin only against the youngest larvae. After the simultaneous application of anethole and insecticide more than 4-fold decrease in the values of LC50 and LC90 was observed. In relation to older larvae and adults synergistic activity of anethole was very weak. Synergism ratios were 1.05–1.26.

Zbadano synergistyczny wpływ anetolu, głównego składnika olejku anyżowego, na toksyczność abamektyny (s.cz. insektycydu Vertimec 018 EC) na przykładzie pleśniakowca lśniącego (Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer). W badaniach zastosowano 1% acetonowe roztwory anetolu oraz wodne roztwory insektycydu o wzrastających stężeniach: 0,0125; 0,025; 0,05; 0,1; 0,15; 0,2; 0,4%. Doświadczenia prowadzono na 10- i 20-dniowych larwach oraz młodych (7–10 dniowych) chrząszczach A. diaperinus, stosując metodę żołądkową w 4 różnych kombinacjach (insektycyd, anetol, insektycyd aplikowany jednocześnie z anetolem, aplikacja insektycydu poprzedzona 3-dniową hodowlą owadów na pokarmie traktowanym anetolem). Doświadczenia zostały przeprowadzone w inku-batorze, w stałej temperaturze +29°C, w ciemności. Badania wykazały, że synergizm najsilniej zaznaczał się tylko w przypadku najmłodszych larw, gdzie obserwowano ponad 4-krotny spadek wartości LC50 i LC90, po łącznym zastosowaniu anetolu i insektycydu. W odniesieniu do starszych larw oraz osobników dorosłych aktywność synergistyczna anetolu była bardzo słaba. Otrzymane współczynniki synergizmu wynosiły 1,05–1,26. 

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