Assessment of an eco-friendly diatomaceous earth collar trap for controlling pine processionary caterpillars Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) (Denis and Schiffermüller, 1775)

Assessment of an eco-friendly diatomaceous earth collar trap for controlling pine processionary caterpillars Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) (Denis and Schiffermüller, 1775) | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Assessment of an eco-friendly diatomaceous earth collar trap for controlling pine processionary caterpillars Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) (Denis and Schiffermüller, 1775) Yassine BOUNOUIRA, Abdellah MOHAMED CHERIF, Kadda Mohamed Amine CHOUHIM, and 5 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5829545/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 27 May, 2025 Read the published version in International Journal of Tropical Insect Science → Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study contributes to the understanding of the insecticidal activity of diatomaceous earth against pine processionary caterpillars in the Thniet El Had National Park, Tissemsilt, Algeria. A number of factors influenced this decision, including the fact that it is a dangerous bug of the Aleppo pine that slows tree growth and poses a health risk to the general people. The microscopic structure of diatomaceous earth revealed a porous structure, demonstrating its water absorption capacity. We tested the effectiveness of diatomaceous earth against caterpillars in petri dishes in the laboratory, and we tested the effectiveness of our diatomaceous earth trap in the field. For the results in the laboratory, the insecticidal activity of diatomaceous earth on caterpillars showed highly significant results, with a lethal concentration 50 of 11.14 mg/cm² and lethal concentration 90 of 14.23 mg/cm². The study of the average mortality of caterpillars showed an increase according to the doses of diatomaceous earth used, as shown by an ascending curve to give the maximum mortality value (10 individuals per repetition) for the dose of 15 mg/cm² after 120 hours of exposure to diatomaceous earth. The application of the diatomaceous earth trap on the field resulted in a mortality rate of 50% of caterpillars, 42.86% of living caterpillars, and 7.14% of pupae. These results indicate that the tested diatomaceous earth can be a solution against this pest, and the diatomaceous earth eco-trap (collar) for pine and cedar processionary caterpillars is considered an excellent integrated pest management tool, non-toxic and environmentally friendly. Diatomaceous earth Thaumetopoea pityocampa insecticidal activity control Algeria Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10 1. Background In forest environments, insects are highly sensitive to variations in environmental conditions, which influence their distribution. Several species share space and time in forest stands, and their dispersal depends primarily on variations and climate change. The pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa , is the main defoliating insect of pines and cedars in the Mediterranean basin (Robinet et al . 2011). Its distribution area is synchronized with climate evolution (Rousselet 2011). Through their voracious consumption of needles, the caterpillars cause defoliation of the tree, often total, leading to a consequent weakening of the stands, thus allowing the establishment of other secondary pests, particularly xylophages. Its winter larval development makes it particularly sensitive and dependent on temperatures during this period of the year. Furthermore, this insect is well known for the ability of the larvae to release urticating hairs responsible for itching and allergic reactions in humans and animals, which poses a serious major human health problem in infested sites (Martin et al. 2007). In Algeria, monoculture reforestation programs of the Pinus halepensis (Mill, 1768) species have led to a proliferation of the pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa , endangering young plantations in semi-arid zones. With current e climatic conditions, infestations of this defoliator are taking on a broader dimension recorded in its distribution area and accentuated by the regression of its natural enemies (Battisti et al. 2005; Kimoto et al. 2006). This insect periodically causes considerable losses throughout Algerian forests (Zamoum et al. 2005). In our work, we focus on a local material called diatomaceous earth (DE), which is quite abundant in Algeria. Diatomaceous earth, also known as kieselguhr, is a siliceous, porous, and friable sedimentary rock formed entirely or almost entirely of diatom skeletons. Diatomaceous earths are naturally occurring substances that have been certified as organic insecticides and are non-toxic and ecologically benign (Ross 1981). The silica dust from Diatomaceous earths has given variable results when used against different target organisms (Korunic 1997a, b). The objective of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Ecopiège diatomaceous earth collar against the pine processionary moth, T. pityocampa , for integrated and natural control in the Thniet El Had National Park of Tissemsilt, Algeria. 2. Methods 2.1. Description of the study area More than 2,968 hectares of the national park are covered in vegetation, with more than 600 species of flora, many of which are endemic to Algeria. Its tree flora consists mainly of 1,000 hectares of cedar, and its cedar grove is the only one of its kind in western Algeria, 1,000 hectares of holm oak, 504 hectares of zeen oak, 460 hectares of cork oak, which grows at altitudes of up to 1,600 metres, and 460 hectares of other species (Aleppo pine, Atlas pistachio, ash, hackberry, Montpellier maple, etc.) (Mairif et al. 2020). The National Park lies in a temperate Mediterranean climate zone with a sub-humid bioclimate (Fig. 1). Winters in Theniet el Had are long, very cold and partly cloudy. Rainfall is irregular, with the national park receiving an average of between 800 and 900 mm of rainfall per year. Summers are short, very hot, dry and clear, with the dry season running from May to September (Mairif 2024). 2.2. Study of Diatomaceous earth The diatomaceous earths were collected from the Bider area (Tlemcen, Algeria). The composition of this material was determined by Bounouira et al . (2019), who showed that it contains coesite HP, silicon dioxide (SiO2) at 77%, magnesium oxide (MgO) at 4.5%, potassium oxide (K2O) at 1.0%, calcium oxide (CaO) at 6.8%, sulfur (VI) oxide (SO3) at 0.6%, phosphorus (V) oxide (P2O5) at 1.0%, iron(III) oxide, hematite HP (Fe2O3) at 4.1%, vanadium phosphide (PV) at 0.4%, phosphorus sulfide (P4S7) at 1.0%, titanium oxide (TiO2) at 0.2%, aluminum oxide (Al2O3) at 2%, phosphorus (P) at 1.0%, sodium oxide (Na2O) at 0.4%. 2.3. Insecticidal Activity of Diatomaceous earth against the Pine Processionary Moth The objectives of this work were to evaluate the effectiveness of diatomaceous earth on the mortality of the pine processionary moth Thaumetopoea pityocampa . We conducted our tests in the laboratory of the University of Tissemsilt, Algeria. Several reasons led to this choice: it is a formidable insect of the Aleppo pine, responsible for slowing tree growth, and it constitutes a public health problem. 2.3.1. Insect Collection After the identification of Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis and Schiffermüller, 1775) larvae in the field by specialists, the larvae of the pine processionary moth were collected using random sampling in the Thniet El Had National Park, Tissemsilt, Algeria. Shortly thereafter, these caterpillars were transported in plastic boxes containing pine needles to the laboratory. 2.3.2. Insecticide Tests (In-vitro) The insects were exposed to diatomaceous earth at different concentrations: 0.0 mg; 5 mg; 7 mg; 9 mg; 11 mg; 13 mg and 15 mg/cm² on filter paper in Petri dishes 9 cm in diameter, containing pine needles to ensure food for the caterpillars (Fig. 2). All experimental caterpillars were placed in a laboratory at 24° ± 2°C. We monitored their mortality rate every 24 hours up to 120 hours of exposure. 2.3.3. Insecticidal Activity of the Ecopiège Diatomaceous earth Collar on the Pine Processionary Moth Thaumetopoea pityocampa (in vivo) The pine processionary moth is one of the major forest pests throughout the Mediterranean countries. It causes a slowdown in tree growth, increased vulnerability to diseases, and is the larval stage of a nocturnal moth. The birth of this moth occurs in the summer, where the female lays her eggs and waits for them to hatch. After hatching, towards the end of summer, these caterpillars are still very small (barely 3 mm), and in colonies, they weave temporary nests at the ends of tree branches. In winter, when living conditions are no longer conducive to their development, they descend from the tree, always in procession. And it is at this time that you can easily trap them, as they need to bury themselves in the ground for pupation. Therefore, we can say that the opportune time for trapping is between December and May. 2.3.4. Manufacturing the Ecopiège Diatomaceous earth Collar For integrated pest management against the pine processionary moth, we manufactured an ecological trap with readily available and inexpensive materials using a more practical and easy-to-manufacture method (Fig. 3). We installed two traps in April in Thniet El Had National Park (Fig. 3E). 2.3.5. Trap Installation At a height of approximately 1.5m, to be away from human and animal activity, we rubbed the tree bark to create a smooth surface; We measured the circumference of the tree to manufacture the trap according to the width of the tree (Fig. 2A); We cut the sponge and the flexible plexiglass sheets according to the measured tree widths (Fig. 3B); We fixed the plexiglass sheet to the sponge using glue, leaving a hole to place the approximately 50cm plastic pipe to direct the caterpillars towards the bottle (Fig. 3C); At the end of the pipe, we inserted and secured with a click strap a bottle containing diatomaceous earth, in which we would trap the caterpillars (Fig. 3D); The caterpillars must be drained into the bag or bottle and must not have a way to escape. We installed the two traps in Thniet El Had National Park in Tissemsilt, Algeria, for two months (from mid-April to mid-June 2022). We finished the work immediately after counting the live caterpillars, the dead caterpillars, and the pupae, and we waited for the emergence of adults until the end of December. 2.4. Methods of Analysis and Exploitation of Results A biological experiment is an action, at least partially controlled, on all or part of living material, whose result, described in quantitative or numerical terms, is subject to interpretation (Lellouche and Lazar, 1974). The methods used in this work are based on analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey-Kramer test (HSD), and lethal concentrations (LC90 and 50). The mortality of the controls was zero, and no correction was necessary. The analysis of repeated measures was performed by population, with diatomaceous earth treatment as the main effect and adult mortality as the response variable. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS software. 3. Results In our work, we focused on a local material called diatomaceous earth, which is quite abundant in Algeria. The interesting properties of diatomaceous earths are related to their physical structure, which forms an aggregate of fine particles perforated according to a regular pattern of more or less regular small pores, in the shape of a honeycomb (Fig. 4). 3.1. Effective Diatomaceous earths Concentrations The mortality of the caterpillar population was highly significant according to the doses and time (P<0.01, P<0.005, respectively) (Table 1). Table 1: ANOVA test for the mortality of caterpillar larvae treated with diatomaceous earth at 0 mg/cm², 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 mg/cm² Sources DDL ANOVA SS Medium square F Pr > F Doses 6 10,6857 1,78095 1,598 0,01909 Time 4 21,2571 5,31429 4,769 0,005648 We know from previous work that different strains of the same species have different susceptibilities to DE (Rigaux et al. 2001), that the concentration of DE affects mortality, and that DEs differ in their effectiveness (Fields and Korunic 2000). To compare the effectiveness of different concentrations of our DE formulation, a Tukey test was performed (Table 2). Similar effectiveness was found between the 0 mg, 5 mg, and 7 mg/cm² concentrations, with a mortality rate of 0%; between 11 and 13 mg/cm² with a mortality rate of less than 66% in less than 120 hours of exposure. The 9 mg/cm² concentration showed a mortality rate of 16.66% in less than 120 hours of exposure, and the 15 mg/cm² concentration had a mortality rate of 100% after 120 hours of exposure (Fig. 5). Table 2: Susceptibility of caterpillar larvae populations to different concentrations of diatomaceous earth Doses Tukey Groupement Mean Mortality 00 A 00 05 A 00 07 A 00 09 B 01 11 C 03 13 C 04 15 D 06 Our study offers a unique opportunity to directly compare the sensitivity of pine processionary caterpillar populations to our diatomaceous earth, based on observed mortality rates. It would be valuable to determine the lethal concentrations required to control this population. 3.2. Estimation of lethal concentration (LC) values for caterpillar larvae We calculated lethal concentrations to determine the diatomaceous earth concentrations causing mortality in caterpillar populations over time. The following table presents the estimated lethal concentrations for our diatomaceous earth: Table 3: Estimated lethal concentrations after diatomaceous earth treatment of caterpillars. Mortality percentage (%) lethal concentrations ( mg/cm² ) 1 7,143 10 8,722 20 9,488 30 10,081 40 10,617 50 11,144 60 11,697 70 12,319 80 13,089 90 14,237 Table 3 allowed us to conclude that diatomaceous earth has a very significant toxic effect on the caterpillar population, with an LC50 of 11.14 and an LC90 of 14.23 mg/cm². 3.3. Correlation between diversity indices and environmental factors To understand the relationship between mortality rates and the doses used, we estimated the Pearson correlation coefficient and tested its significance using the p-value. Based on Table 4, we calculated the Pearson correlations. Table 4: Calculation of Pearson correlation coefficients between the mortality rate of caterpillars and the doses used. Correlation Mortality Doses P-Value = 0,001 r = 0,93 R 2 = 0,88 The previous table showed that the mortality rate is positively correlated with the doses of diatomaceous earth used (P-value = 0.001, r = 0.93 and R² = 0.88). 1.1. Estimated marginal means of mortality to better understand the relationship between the doses used and the mortality rate of the caterpillar population after exposure to diatomaceous earth, we estimated the mean mortality rates (Fig. 6). We observed that the mean mortality increased with increasing doses, reaching a maximum (6 individuals per repetition) with the highest dose (240 mg/cm³). 3.4. Cumulative mortality The caterpillar mortality curve during the 120-hour exposure to diatomaceous earth remains null for the control and 5 and 7 mg/cm² concentrations; for the 9 mg/cm² concentration, mortality reaches 16.66% after 120 hours of exposure. With increasing concentrations, mortality reaches 50% with the 11 mg/cm² concentration after 120 hours of exposure; mortality reaches 66.66% for the 13 mg/cm² concentration after 120 hours of exposure; finally, the mortality rate reaches its maximum of 100% after 120 hours of exposure to diatomaceous earth at the 15 mg/cm² concentration (Fig. 7). 3.5. Mortality of caterpillars collected by traps We marked 70 caterpillars, of which 35 were found dead, 30 were alive, and 5 had pupated (Fig. 8 and Fig. 9). We previously explained that climatic disturbances in recent years have prevented the appearance of caterpillars. After calculating the percentages, we observed a very high mortality rate of 50% (35 individuals) immediately after trap removal, as well as a survival rate of 42.86% (30 individuals) and a pupation rate of 7.14% (5 individuals) (Fig. 10). At the end of December, we counted 35 pupae and observed no adult emergence, indicating that all pupae had died as a result of the diatomaceous earth treatment. 4. Discussion In this study, we tested the insecticidal activity of diatomaceous earth against pine processionary caterpillars. Humanity has struggled for centuries to minimize the damage caused by insect pests through various means and methods, including biological control using predators, parasitoids, and pathogens, and physical control by subjecting insects to artificial capture or host avoidance (Cuisance et al. 1994). Silicate dust has been used to control household pests (Melichar and Willomitzer 1967), structural pests (Ebeling and Wagner 1959), and to protect field crops (Ebeling 1971). Diatomaceous earths are naturally occurring substances that have been certified as organic insecticides and are non-toxic and environmentally benign (Ross 1981). Diatomaceous earths are amorphous dusts and are no longer considered hazardous to human health, unlike crystalline dusts, if used correctly and for short exposure times (Ferch et al. 1987). Our results show that the mortality rate increases with increasing doses and exposure time. Numerous diatomaceous earth-based insecticides have been applied to control pests in various areas, but most often for pests in homes and gardens, and in the protection of stored agricultural products. Application to growing plants (fruit trees, vines, and vegetables) is occasional (Korunic 1997). Korunic (1998) demonstrated that the insecticidal efficacy of diatomaceous earth is influenced by several key factors: uniform particle size distribution, a higher percentage of particles smaller than 12 mm, a larger surface area and greater oil adsorption capacity, a pH below 8.5, diatomaceous earth density, and a high content of amorphous SiO2. The efficacy of diatomaceous earth varies depending on the geological origin of the mines from which it is extracted (Mclaughlin 1994), likely due to differences in the physical and morphological properties of diatoms (Korunic, 1998). Silica dust has shown variable results against different target organisms (Korunic 1997a, b). Rigaux et al. (2001) observed that even within the same insect species, individuals from different origins displayed varying sensitivities to diatomaceous earth. The effectiveness of diatomaceous earth in controlling stored product pests is influenced by factors such as insect species, commodities, humidity, and temperature (Fields and Korunic 2000). Numerous studies have reported the effects of diatomaceous earth on a wide range of beetles, including Rhyzopertha dominica (Fields and Korunic 2000 ; Stathers and al. 2002) , Tribolium castaneum (Rigaux and al. 2001 ; Reza and al. 2012 ; Kabir 2013), Tribolium confusum (Mewis and Ulrichs 2001), several Sitophilus species (Islam et al. 2010 ; Fields and Korunic 2000; Mewis and Ulrichs 2001; Bounouira et al. 2022), Callosobruchus maculatus (Islam and al. 2010), Plodia interpunctella (Mewis and Ulrichs 2001 ), Agriotes lineatus (Bounouira et al. 2019) and Ceratitis capitata and (Bounouira et al. 2024). According to Korunic (1994), the sensitivity of different insects to diatomaceous earth varies. Furthermore, it has been reported to be effective against cockroaches, silverfish, bed bugs, mites, ants, fleas, gastropods like slugs, and stored product insect larvae (Faulde et al. 2006; Fields et al. 2002; Athanassiou 2006). To understand this variability, various theories about diatomaceous earth mode of action have been proposed: dehydration of the insect's exoskeleton (Zacher and Kunicke 1931), blockage of spiracles and tracheae (Webb 1945), disruption of cuticular lipids (Ebeling 1964), damage to the protective wax layer (Beament 1945; Ebeling 1971), and damage to the insect's digestive tract (Jackson and Webley 1994; Losic and Korunic 2018). As a mechanical insecticide, DE does not induce insect resistance, making it a sustainable control option. Diatomaceous earth is essentially a lethal dust with microscopic sharp edges. When ingested, it causes dehydration and internal damage to insects. This study represents a first step towards developing a new integrated pest management strategy using diatomaceous earth. Further research is needed to enhance its repellency against various pests. 5. Conclusion These results allow us to propose this natural product as a possible alternative to the insecticides used until now to control the pine processionary caterpillar, which will allow us to better preserve our health and the environment. The diatomaceous earth eco-trap (collar) for pine and cedar processionary caterpillars is considered an excellent integrated pest management tool, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, less expensive and sustainable, as it allows us to avoid human health and environmental problems. Declarations Funding Not applicable. Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests. Availability of data and material Not applicable. Authors' contributions YB, AMC, MM & TD designed the experiments, YB, AMC, MM, TD, AL, NS, KMAC& YA performed the experiments, YB, AL, NS & YA recorded the data and interpreted the results with YB, AMC, MM, TD. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. 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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/jsr.v4i3.9637 Rigaux M, Haubruge E, Fields P G (2001) Mechanisms for tolerance to diatomaceous earth between strains of Tribolium castaneum. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 101, 33-39. DOI:10.1046/j.1570-7458.2001.00888.x Robinet C, Imbert C E, Rousselet J, Sauvard D, Garcia J, Goussard F, Roques A (2011) Human-mediated long-distance jumps of the pine processionary moth in Europe. Biological Invasions, 14,1557-1569. DOI:10.1007/s10530-011-9979-9 Ross T E (1981) Diatomaceous earth as a possible alternative to chemical insecticides. Agriculture and Environment 6: 43-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-1131(81)90026-6 Rousselet J (2011) La chenille processionnaire du pin, Thaumetopoea pityocampa ravageur forestier à la nuisance urbaine. Centre de recherche d’Orléans. INRA, 2p. Sait E, Turgut A, Umut T, Mustafa A (2020) The efficacy of different surface applications of wettable powder. 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Ghaioule (Eds.), Entomological Research in Mediterranean Forest Ecosystem (pp. 107-116). Paris: INRA. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 27 May, 2025 Read the published version in International Journal of Tropical Insect Science → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Accept 02 May, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 10 Apr, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 07 Apr, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 01 Apr, 2025 First submitted to journal 28 Mar, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5829545","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":439281749,"identity":"a940d3d6-73ec-42c0-856e-5e3ecd578290","order_by":0,"name":"Yassine BOUNOUIRA","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABEElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACAwglgeDyQ9gSMgzMB4jUIjmDgbEBKMLDwJaATwuyyA2wFgacWszZe8wefGyzyOefkfz444+CO3LGt5uPP7pRYwHUwvsAmxbLnjPmhjPbJCxn3Egzk+YxeGZsdudYYnPOMZDD2DHdAHZGjpk0b5uEAcONBDNmBoPDidtu5Bg257ABtci3YfcLTIv8jfTPH38YHK7fPAOk5R/IFjb8WoAMAwkeg8MJBhJALbltuLVY9hwrk5xxTsLA8MybMqBfDhsCPZU4O7dPgocNhxZz9uZtEh/K6gzkjqdv/vjjz2F5YNAd+JzzrU6OH4cWBBBIQBMgpAGYUA4QVDIKRsEoGAUjFAAArcVZC6zVcbAAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1698-5652","institution":"University Centre of Tissemsilt: Centre Universitaire de Tissemsilt","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yassine","middleName":"","lastName":"BOUNOUIRA","suffix":""},{"id":439281750,"identity":"62697f60-f0b4-410b-a9ea-09feb1c17b36","order_by":1,"name":"Abdellah MOHAMED CHERIF","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University Centre of Tissemsilt: Centre Universitaire de 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Tissemsilt","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Tayeb","middleName":"","lastName":"DJETTI","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-01-14 19:49:09","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5829545/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5829545/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-025-01528-1","type":"published","date":"2025-05-27T15:57:41+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":80309500,"identity":"6d45e7e0-cfc9-4e66-92dd-d17ed2bda8ff","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-04-10 10:57:12","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":362819,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eGeolocation of the study plot\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5829545/v1/3584326fc759b72ddd925d13.png"},{"id":80310845,"identity":"9704b903-ca46-436f-8228-ec1e79511d63","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-04-10 11:21:12","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":425284,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eBioassays against caterpillars\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5829545/v1/175ac8f1bcb4675ef5e5d136.png"},{"id":80309502,"identity":"f3a924e1-6322-4546-994a-b5be157d10be","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-04-10 10:57:12","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":450338,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eFabrication and installation of eco-traps for pine processionary caterpillars.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5829545/v1/067c6b869f12c8dce5865fb9.png"},{"id":80309515,"identity":"0cd612e5-84a0-436b-8ece-34a5012d8789","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-04-10 10:57:12","extension":"png","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":318938,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eMicroscopic structure of diatomaceous earth\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5829545/v1/043d858f24390af0dbcd612c.png"},{"id":80309672,"identity":"386db0a6-4d10-4496-9553-edfdc81ae663","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-04-10 11:05:12","extension":"png","order_by":5,"title":"Figure 5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":194657,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003ePopulations of caterpillars' larvae at different concentrations of diatomaceous earth\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"5.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5829545/v1/7dac9f8754919712d897ff8a.png"},{"id":80311506,"identity":"1ea73775-bdad-4d95-b7e7-3f3a939cc4fc","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-04-10 11:29:12","extension":"png","order_by":6,"title":"Figure 6","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":42002,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eEstimated marginal means of caterpillar mortality\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"6.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5829545/v1/7151cd08e77c0fd3be96e2dc.png"},{"id":80309504,"identity":"a9065b45-6231-4d0a-8cb9-f5812b052719","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-04-10 10:57:12","extension":"png","order_by":7,"title":"Figure 7","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":76794,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eCumulative mortality rates of caterpillar populations exposed to diatomaceous earth at 0 mg/cm², 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 mg/cm² for 120 hours.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"7.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5829545/v1/a2338efb38d19708f36c5d31.png"},{"id":80310547,"identity":"45ebd24d-edc1-45e0-8d0c-9efd5c04c9c0","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-04-10 11:13:12","extension":"png","order_by":8,"title":"Figure 8","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":284853,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eCaterpillar harvest\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"8.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5829545/v1/74b024c2e2f3fb9d153bcfdb.png"},{"id":80309698,"identity":"11a83511-d0f4-421f-9061-59531ed0f70a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-04-10 11:05:12","extension":"png","order_by":9,"title":"Figure 9","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":217323,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eA: Pupae; B: Caterpillars.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"9.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5829545/v1/6d5d291f004fc7292d14983d.png"},{"id":80309513,"identity":"63e3d465-ad01-4cad-9503-894b76ada6f2","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-04-10 10:57:12","extension":"png","order_by":10,"title":"Figure 10","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":32804,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eNumber of harvested caterpillars\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"10.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5829545/v1/f20e66bd7fd8e55f2fa271f7.png"},{"id":83782913,"identity":"175e935d-841a-44f9-98d3-b2dc40aef96c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-06-02 16:08:31","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":4343910,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5829545/v1/b6bc949e-8742-4580-9fee-abc977fe5826.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eAssessment of an eco-friendly diatomaceous earth collar trap for controlling pine processionary caterpillars Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) (Denis and Schiffermüller, 1775)\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[{"header":"1. Background ","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn forest environments, insects are highly sensitive to variations in environmental conditions, which influence their distribution. Several species share space and time in forest stands, and their dispersal depends primarily on variations and climate change. The pine processionary moth, \u003cem\u003eThaumetopoea pityocampa\u003c/em\u003e, is the main defoliating insect of pines and cedars in the Mediterranean basin (Robinet \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e.\u003c/em\u003e 2011). \u0026nbsp;Its distribution area is synchronized with climate evolution (Rousselet 2011). Through their voracious consumption of needles, the caterpillars cause defoliation of the tree, often total, leading to a consequent weakening of the stands, thus allowing the establishment of other secondary pests, particularly xylophages. Its winter larval development makes it particularly sensitive and dependent on temperatures during this period of the year. Furthermore, this insect is well known for the ability of the larvae to release urticating hairs responsible for itching and allergic reactions in humans and animals, which poses a serious major human health problem in infested sites (Martin \u003cem\u003eet al.\u003c/em\u003e 2007).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Algeria, monoculture reforestation programs of the \u003cem\u003ePinus halepensis\u003c/em\u003e (Mill, 1768) species have led to a proliferation of the pine processionary moth, \u003cem\u003eThaumetopoea pityocampa\u003c/em\u003e, endangering young plantations in semi-arid zones. With current e climatic conditions, infestations of this defoliator are taking on a broader dimension recorded in its distribution area and accentuated by the regression of its natural enemies (Battisti \u003cem\u003eet al.\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e2005; Kimoto \u003cem\u003eet al.\u003c/em\u003e 2006). This insect periodically causes considerable losses throughout Algerian forests (Zamoum \u003cem\u003eet al.\u003c/em\u003e 2005).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn our work, we focus on a local material called diatomaceous earth (DE), which is quite abundant in Algeria. Diatomaceous earth, also known as kieselguhr, is a siliceous, porous, and friable sedimentary rock formed entirely or almost entirely of diatom skeletons.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDiatomaceous earths are naturally occurring substances that have been certified as organic insecticides and are non-toxic and ecologically benign (Ross 1981). The silica dust from Diatomaceous earths has given variable results when used against different target organisms (Korunic 1997a, b). The objective of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Ecopi\u0026egrave;ge diatomaceous earth collar against the pine processionary moth, \u003cem\u003eT. pityocampa\u003c/em\u003e, for integrated and natural control in the Thniet El Had National Park of Tissemsilt, Algeria. \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2. Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2.1. Description of the study area\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore than 2,968 hectares of the national park are covered in vegetation, with more than 600 species of flora, many of which are endemic to Algeria. Its tree flora consists mainly of 1,000 hectares of cedar, and its cedar grove is the only one of its kind in western Algeria, 1,000 hectares of holm oak, 504 hectares of zeen oak, 460 hectares of cork oak, which grows at altitudes of up to 1,600 metres, and 460 hectares of other species (Aleppo pine, Atlas pistachio, ash, hackberry, Montpellier maple, etc.) (Mairif et al. 2020). The National Park lies in a temperate Mediterranean climate zone with a sub-humid bioclimate (Fig. 1). Winters in Theniet el Had are long, very cold and partly cloudy. Rainfall is irregular, with the national park receiving an average of between 800 and 900 mm of rainfall per year. Summers are short, very hot, dry and clear, with the dry season running from May to September (Mairif 2024).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2.2. Study of Diatomaceous earth\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe diatomaceous earths were collected from the Bider area (Tlemcen, Algeria). The composition of this material was determined by Bounouira \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. (2019), who showed that it contains coesite HP, silicon dioxide (SiO2) at 77%, magnesium oxide (MgO) at 4.5%, potassium oxide (K2O) at 1.0%, calcium oxide (CaO) at 6.8%, sulfur (VI) oxide (SO3) at 0.6%, phosphorus (V) oxide (P2O5) at 1.0%, iron(III) oxide, hematite HP (Fe2O3) at 4.1%, vanadium phosphide (PV) at 0.4%, phosphorus sulfide (P4S7) at 1.0%, titanium oxide (TiO2) at 0.2%, aluminum oxide (Al2O3) at 2%, phosphorus (P) at 1.0%, sodium oxide (Na2O) at 0.4%.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2.3. Insecticidal Activity of Diatomaceous earth against the Pine Processionary Moth\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe objectives of this work were to evaluate the effectiveness of diatomaceous earth on the mortality of the pine processionary moth \u003cem\u003eThaumetopoea pityocampa\u003c/em\u003e. We conducted our tests in the laboratory of the University of Tissemsilt, Algeria. Several reasons led to this choice: it is a formidable insect of the Aleppo pine, responsible for slowing tree growth, and it constitutes a public health problem.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2.3.1. Insect Collection\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the identification of \u003cem\u003eThaumetopoea pityocampa\u003c/em\u003e (Denis and Schifferm\u0026uuml;ller, 1775) larvae in the field by specialists, the larvae of the pine processionary moth were collected using random sampling in the Thniet El Had National Park, Tissemsilt, Algeria. Shortly thereafter, these caterpillars were transported in plastic boxes containing pine needles to the laboratory.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2.3.2. Insecticide Tests (In-vitro)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe insects were exposed to diatomaceous earth at different concentrations: 0.0 mg; 5 mg; 7 mg; 9 mg; 11 mg; 13 mg and 15 mg/cm\u0026sup2; on filter paper in Petri dishes 9 cm in diameter, containing pine needles to ensure food for the caterpillars (Fig. 2). All experimental caterpillars were placed in a laboratory at 24\u0026deg; \u0026plusmn; 2\u0026deg;C. We monitored their mortality rate every 24 hours up to 120 hours of exposure.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2.3.3. Insecticidal Activity of the Ecopi\u0026egrave;ge Diatomaceous earth Collar on the Pine Processionary Moth\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThaumetopoea pityocampa\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;(in vivo)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pine processionary moth is one of the major forest pests throughout the Mediterranean countries. It causes a slowdown in tree growth, increased vulnerability to diseases, and is the larval stage of a nocturnal moth. The birth of this moth occurs in the summer, where the female lays her eggs and waits for them to hatch. After hatching, towards the end of summer, these caterpillars are still very small (barely 3 mm), and in colonies, they weave temporary nests at the ends of tree branches. In winter, when living conditions are no longer conducive to their development, they descend from the tree, always in procession. And it is at this time that you can easily trap them, as they need to bury themselves in the ground for pupation. Therefore, we can say that the opportune time for trapping is between December and May.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2.3.4. Manufacturing the Ecopi\u0026egrave;ge Diatomaceous earth Collar\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor integrated pest management against the pine processionary moth, we manufactured an ecological trap with readily available and inexpensive materials using a more practical and easy-to-manufacture method (Fig. 3). We installed two traps in April in Thniet El Had National Park (Fig. 3E).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2.3.5. Trap Installation\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt a height of approximately 1.5m, to be away from human and animal activity, we rubbed the tree bark to create a smooth surface;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"decimal_type\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eWe measured the circumference of the tree to manufacture the trap according to the width of the tree (Fig. 2A);\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eWe cut the sponge and the flexible plexiglass sheets according to the measured tree widths (Fig. 3B);\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eWe fixed the plexiglass sheet to the sponge using glue, leaving a hole to place the approximately 50cm plastic pipe to direct the caterpillars towards the bottle (Fig. 3C);\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eAt the end of the pipe, we inserted and secured with a click strap a bottle containing diatomaceous earth, in which we would trap the caterpillars (Fig. 3D);\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe caterpillars must be drained into the bag or bottle and must not have a way to escape.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe installed the two traps in Thniet El Had National Park in Tissemsilt, Algeria, for two months (from mid-April to mid-June 2022). We finished the work immediately after counting the live caterpillars, the dead caterpillars, and the pupae, and we waited for the emergence of adults until the end of December.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2.4. Methods of Analysis and Exploitation of Results\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA biological experiment is an action, at least partially controlled, on all or part of living material, whose result, described in quantitative or numerical terms, is subject to interpretation (Lellouche and Lazar, 1974).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe methods used in this work are based on analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey-Kramer test (HSD), and lethal concentrations (LC90 and 50). The mortality of the controls was zero, and no correction was necessary.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe analysis of repeated measures was performed by population, with diatomaceous earth treatment as the main effect and adult mortality as the response variable. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS software.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"3. Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn our work, we focused on a local material called diatomaceous earth, which is quite abundant in Algeria. The interesting properties of diatomaceous earths are related to their physical structure, which forms an aggregate of fine particles perforated according to a regular pattern of more or less regular small pores, in the shape of a honeycomb (Fig. 4).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.1. Effective Diatomaceous earths Concentrations\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mortality of the caterpillar population was highly significant according to the doses and time (P\u0026lt;0.01, P\u0026lt;0.005, respectively) (Table 1).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 1: ANOVA test for the mortality of caterpillar larvae treated with diatomaceous earth at 0 mg/cm\u0026sup2;, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 mg/cm\u0026sup2;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"Left\"\u003e\n \u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"596\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 105px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSources\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 98px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDDL\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eANOVA SS\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMedium square\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 69px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eF\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePr \u0026gt; F\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 105px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoses\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 98px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10,6857\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1,78095\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 69px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1,598\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0,01909\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 105px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTime\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 98px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e21,2571\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5,31429\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 69px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4,769\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 104px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0,005648\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe know from previous work that different strains of the same species have different susceptibilities to DE (Rigaux \u003cem\u003eet al.\u003c/em\u003e 2001), that the concentration of DE affects mortality, and that DEs differ in their effectiveness (Fields and Korunic 2000). To compare the effectiveness of different concentrations of our DE formulation, a Tukey test was performed (Table 2). Similar effectiveness was found between the 0 mg, 5 mg, and 7 mg/cm\u0026sup2; concentrations, with a mortality rate of 0%; between 11 and 13 mg/cm\u0026sup2; with a mortality rate of less than 66% in less than 120 hours of exposure. The 9 mg/cm\u0026sup2; concentration showed a mortality rate of 16.66% in less than 120 hours of exposure, and the 15 mg/cm\u0026sup2; concentration had a mortality rate of 100% after 120 hours of exposure (Fig. 5).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 2:\u003c/strong\u003e Susceptibility of caterpillar larvae populations to different concentrations of diatomaceous earth\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"bottom\" style=\"width: 113px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoses\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 161px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;Tukey Groupement \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"bottom\" style=\"width: 189px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMean Mortality\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 113px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 161px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eA\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 189px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 113px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e05\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 161px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eA\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 189px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 113px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e07\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 161px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eA\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 189px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 113px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e09\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 161px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eB\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 189px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e01\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 113px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 161px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 189px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e03\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 113px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 161px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 189px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e04\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 113px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 161px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eD\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 189px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e06\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur study offers a unique opportunity to directly compare the sensitivity of pine processionary caterpillar populations to our diatomaceous earth, based on observed mortality rates. It would be valuable to determine the lethal concentrations required to control this population.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.2. Estimation of lethal concentration (LC) values for caterpillar larvae\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe calculated lethal concentrations to determine the diatomaceous earth concentrations causing mortality in caterpillar populations over time. The following table presents the estimated lethal concentrations for our diatomaceous earth: \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 3:\u003c/strong\u003e Estimated lethal concentrations after diatomaceous earth treatment of caterpillars.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"Left\"\u003e\n \u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 204px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMortality percentage (%)\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 196px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003elethal concentrations\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003emg/cm\u0026sup2;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 204px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 196px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7,143\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 204px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 196px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8,722\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 204px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 196px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9,488\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 204px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 196px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10,081\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 204px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 196px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10,617\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 204px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e50\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 196px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11,144\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 204px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e60\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 196px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11,697\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 204px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e70\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 196px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12,319\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 204px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e80\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 196px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13,089\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 204px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e90\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 196px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e14,237\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 3 allowed us to conclude that diatomaceous earth has a very significant toxic effect on the caterpillar population, with an LC50 of 11.14 and an LC90 of 14.23 mg/cm\u0026sup2;.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.3. Correlation between diversity indices and environmental factors\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo understand the relationship between mortality rates and the doses used, we estimated the Pearson correlation coefficient and tested its significance using the p-value. Based on Table 4, we calculated the Pearson correlations.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 4:\u003c/strong\u003e Calculation of Pearson correlation coefficients between the mortality rate of caterpillars and the doses used.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"Left\"\u003e\n \u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"280\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 105px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCorrelation\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 175px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMortality\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"3\" style=\"width: 105px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoses\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 175px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eP-Value = 0,001\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 175px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003er = 0,93\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 175px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eR\u003csup\u003e2\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sup\u003e= 0,88\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe previous table showed that the mortality rate is positively correlated with the doses of diatomaceous earth used (P-value = 0.001, r = 0.93 and R\u0026sup2; = 0.88).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1.1. Estimated marginal means of mortality to better understand the relationship between the doses used and the mortality rate of the caterpillar population after exposure to diatomaceous earth, we estimated the mean mortality rates (Fig. 6). We observed that the mean mortality increased with increasing doses, reaching a maximum (6 individuals per repetition) with the highest dose (240 mg/cm\u0026sup3;).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.4. Cumulative mortality\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe caterpillar mortality curve during the 120-hour exposure to diatomaceous earth remains null for the control and 5 and 7 mg/cm\u0026sup2; concentrations; for the 9 mg/cm\u0026sup2; concentration, mortality reaches 16.66% after 120 hours of exposure. With increasing concentrations, mortality reaches 50% with the 11 mg/cm\u0026sup2; concentration after 120 hours of exposure; mortality reaches 66.66% for the 13 mg/cm\u0026sup2; concentration after 120 hours of exposure; finally, the mortality rate reaches its maximum of 100% after 120 hours of exposure to diatomaceous earth at the 15 mg/cm\u0026sup2; concentration (Fig. 7).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.5. Mortality of caterpillars collected by traps\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe marked 70 caterpillars, of which 35 were found dead, 30 were alive, and 5 had pupated (Fig. 8 and Fig. 9).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe previously explained that climatic disturbances in recent years have prevented the appearance of caterpillars. After calculating the percentages, we observed a very high mortality rate of 50% (35 individuals) immediately after trap removal, as well as a survival rate of 42.86% (30 individuals) and a pupation rate of 7.14% (5 individuals) (Fig. 10).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the end of December, we counted 35 pupae and observed no adult emergence, indicating that all pupae had died as a result of the diatomaceous earth treatment.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"4. Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn this study, we tested the insecticidal activity of diatomaceous earth against pine processionary caterpillars.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHumanity has struggled for centuries to minimize the damage caused by insect pests through various means and methods, including biological control using predators, parasitoids, and pathogens, and physical control by subjecting insects to artificial capture or host avoidance (Cuisance et al. 1994).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSilicate dust has been used to control household pests (Melichar and Willomitzer 1967), structural pests (Ebeling and Wagner 1959), and to protect field crops (Ebeling 1971). Diatomaceous earths are naturally occurring substances that have been certified as organic insecticides and are non-toxic and environmentally benign (Ross 1981).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDiatomaceous earths are amorphous dusts and are no longer considered hazardous to human health, unlike crystalline dusts, if used correctly and for short exposure times (Ferch et al. 1987). Our results show that the mortality rate increases with increasing doses and exposure time. Numerous diatomaceous earth-based insecticides have been applied to control pests in various areas, but most often for pests in homes and gardens, and in the protection of stored agricultural products. Application to growing plants (fruit trees, vines, and vegetables) is occasional (Korunic 1997).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKorunic (1998) demonstrated that the insecticidal efficacy of diatomaceous earth is influenced by several key factors: uniform particle size distribution, a higher percentage of particles smaller than 12 mm, a larger surface area and greater oil adsorption capacity, a pH below 8.5, diatomaceous earth density, and a high content of amorphous SiO2.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe efficacy of diatomaceous earth varies depending on the geological origin of the mines from which it is extracted (Mclaughlin 1994), likely due to differences in the physical and morphological properties of diatoms (Korunic, 1998). Silica dust has shown variable results against different target organisms (Korunic 1997a, b). Rigaux et al. (2001) observed that even within the same insect species, individuals from different origins displayed varying sensitivities to diatomaceous earth.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe effectiveness of diatomaceous earth in controlling stored product pests is influenced by factors such as insect species, commodities, humidity, and temperature (Fields and Korunic 2000). \u0026nbsp;Numerous studies have reported the effects of diatomaceous earth on a wide range of beetles, including\u0026nbsp;\u003cem\u003eRhyzopertha dominica\u003c/em\u003e (Fields and Korunic 2000 ; Stathers and al. 2002) , \u003cem\u003eTribolium castaneum\u003c/em\u003e (Rigaux and al. \u0026nbsp;2001 ; Reza and al. 2012 ; Kabir 2013), \u003cem\u003eTribolium confusum\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e(Mewis and Ulrichs 2001),\u0026nbsp;\u003cem\u003eseveral Sitophilus\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003especies (Islam et al. 2010 ; Fields and Korunic 2000; Mewis and Ulrichs 2001; Bounouira et al. 2022), \u003cem\u003eCallosobruchus maculatus\u003c/em\u003e (Islam and al. 2010), \u003cem\u003ePlodia interpunctella\u003c/em\u003e (Mewis and Ulrichs 2001 ), \u003cem\u003eAgriotes lineatus\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e(Bounouira et al. 2019) and\u0026nbsp;\u003cem\u003eCeratitis capitata\u003c/em\u003e and (Bounouira et al. 2024).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to Korunic (1994), the sensitivity of different insects to diatomaceous earth varies. Furthermore, it has been reported to be effective against cockroaches, silverfish, bed bugs, mites, ants, fleas, gastropods like slugs, and stored product insect larvae (Faulde et al. 2006; Fields et al. 2002; Athanassiou 2006).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo understand this variability, various theories about diatomaceous earth mode of action have been proposed: dehydration of the insect's exoskeleton (Zacher and Kunicke 1931), blockage of spiracles and tracheae (Webb 1945), disruption of cuticular lipids (Ebeling 1964), damage to the protective wax layer (Beament 1945; Ebeling 1971), and damage to the insect's digestive tract (Jackson and Webley 1994; Losic and Korunic 2018). As a mechanical insecticide, DE does not induce insect resistance, making it a sustainable control option.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDiatomaceous earth is essentially a lethal dust with microscopic sharp edges. When ingested, it causes dehydration and internal damage to insects. This study represents a first step towards developing a new integrated pest management strategy using diatomaceous earth. Further research is needed to enhance its repellency against various pests.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"5. Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThese results allow us to propose this natural product as a possible alternative to the insecticides used until now to control the pine processionary caterpillar, which will allow us to better preserve our health and the environment. The diatomaceous earth eco-trap (collar) for pine and cedar processionary caterpillars is considered an excellent integrated pest management tool, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, less expensive and sustainable, as it allows us to avoid human health and environmental problems.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare no competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability of data and material\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors' contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYB, AMC, MM \u0026amp; TD designed the experiments, YB, AMC, MM, TD, AL, NS, KMAC\u0026amp; YA performed the experiments, YB, AL, NS \u0026amp; YA recorded the data and interpreted the results with YB, AMC, MM, TD. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics approval\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003econsent to participate\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent for publication\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot applicable.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References ","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAthanassiou C G (2006) \u003c/strong\u003eInfluence of instar and commodity on insecticidal effect of two diatomaceous earth formulations against larvae of \u003cem\u003eEphestia kuehniella \u003c/em\u003e(Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)\u003cstrong\u003e. \u003c/strong\u003eJ. 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Arbeitsberichte der Biologischen Reichsanstalt 18. 201-231.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eZamoum M, Demolin G (2005)\u003c/strong\u003e The life cycle of the pine processionary caterpillar\u003cem\u003e in the bioclimatic conditions of a sub- Saharan region. In F. Lieutieret D. Ghaioule (Eds.), Entomological Research in Mediterranean Forest Ecosystem (pp. 107-116). \u003c/em\u003eParis: \u003cem\u003eINRA.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"international-journal-of-tropical-insect-science","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"jtis","sideBox":"Learn more about [International Journal of Tropical Insect Science](http://link.springer.com/journal/42690)","snPcode":"42690","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/jtis/default2.aspx","title":"International Journal of Tropical Insect Science","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Diatomaceous earth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa, insecticidal activity, control, Algeria","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5829545/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5829545/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study contributes to the understanding of the insecticidal activity of diatomaceous earth against pine processionary caterpillars in the Thniet El Had National Park, Tissemsilt, Algeria. A number of factors influenced this decision, including the fact that it is a dangerous bug of the Aleppo pine that slows tree growth and poses a health risk to the general people. The microscopic structure of diatomaceous earth revealed a porous structure, demonstrating its water absorption capacity. We tested the effectiveness of diatomaceous earth against caterpillars in petri dishes in the laboratory, and we tested the effectiveness of our diatomaceous earth trap in the field. For the results in the laboratory, the insecticidal activity of diatomaceous earth on caterpillars showed highly significant results, with a lethal concentration 50 of 11.14 mg/cm\u0026sup2; and lethal concentration 90 of 14.23 mg/cm\u0026sup2;. The study of the average mortality of caterpillars showed an increase according to the doses of diatomaceous earth used, as shown by an ascending curve to give the maximum mortality value (10 individuals per repetition) for the dose of 15 mg/cm\u0026sup2; after 120 hours of exposure to diatomaceous earth. The application of the diatomaceous earth trap on the field resulted in a mortality rate of 50% of caterpillars, 42.86% of living caterpillars, and 7.14% of pupae. These results indicate that the tested diatomaceous earth can be a solution against this pest, and the diatomaceous earth eco-trap (collar) for pine and cedar processionary caterpillars is considered an excellent integrated pest management tool, non-toxic and environmentally friendly.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Assessment of an eco-friendly diatomaceous earth collar trap for controlling pine processionary caterpillars Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) (Denis and Schiffermüller, 1775)","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-04-10 10:57:07","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5829545/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Accept","date":"2025-05-02T16:27:21+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"","date":"2025-04-10T17:36:16+00:00","index":0,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-04-07T06:18:36+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-04-01T11:15:01+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"International Journal of Tropical Insect Science","date":"2025-03-28T11:56:12+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"international-journal-of-tropical-insect-science","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"jtis","sideBox":"Learn more about [International Journal of Tropical Insect Science](http://link.springer.com/journal/42690)","snPcode":"42690","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/jtis/default2.aspx","title":"International Journal of Tropical Insect Science","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"cbedd254-2db9-4c64-8402-7b49fc7635ce","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 10th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-06-02T16:02:22+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-5829545","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-025-01528-1","journal":{"identity":"international-journal-of-tropical-insect-science","isVorOnly":false,"title":"International Journal of Tropical Insect Science"},"publishedOn":"2025-05-27 15:57:41","publishedOnDateReadable":"May 27th, 2025"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-04-10 10:57:07","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s42690-025-01528-1","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-025-01528-1","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-5829545","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-5829545","identity":"rs-5829545","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}