Analysis of the repellent effect of lavender vegetable oil on Tityus serrulatus scorpions

• Grant number: 24/06688-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Animal Behavior
• Principal Investigator: Rodrigo Hirata Willemart
• Grantee: João Felipe Rugine
• Host Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Present on practically all continents, with the exception of Greenland, scorpions represent a timeless problem that affects a large portion of humanity. Thousands of children die every year from scorpion accidents. Physical control, with the active collection and removal of these animals from large urban centers, has not reduced the number of accidents and chemical control is still inefficient, requiring extremely specific conditions to become minimally effective. In addition to this factor, these insecticides also contaminate the environment and affect other non-target forms of life. As an alternative, control with natural sources has emerged as a new possibility to control pests without causing so many environmental problems. Lavender extracts already have demonstrated effects against arthropods and could also be effective in controlling scorpions. Preliminary experiments in our laboratory suggest that there are irritating effects of lavender essential oil on yellow scorpions Tityus serrulatus. The application of drops diluted in alcohol caused the animals to escape in the arena, spasms and cleaning of the pedipalps. Now we intend to increase the number of observations, carry out appropriate controls, test different dilutions and vary the experimental conditions, in addition to checking whether there may also be mortality. Therefore, the development of this study has enormous potential for lavender to be used as a form of repelling and eliminating scorpions.