Characterization of the chemical communication of the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari: Dermanyssidae) and its potential use in biological control

Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778), commonly named poultry red mite (PRM), is considered as the most harmful ectoparasite in poultry farms in Europe. This species feeds from blood of laying hens but spend most of its time hidden in cracks and crevices around hen’s nests. To control PRM populations in poultry houses, chemical pesticides are currently used with growing concern on harmful residues found in eggs and hens and mite resistance against several compounds. Other alternatives are now explored to avoid the use of synthetic compounds such as vaccines, biological control, physical control or semiochemical control base on PRM chemical ecology. Our study focuses on the identification of pheromones emitted by PRM such as sex pheromone. To that purpose, samplings of individuals were realized in poultry houses and then, a first volatile organic compounds (VOCs) sampling was realised by SPME (Solid Phase Micro-Extraction) coupled to GC-MS (Gaz Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry) analysis to identify VOCs realised by the crush of 300 female individuals. Results allowed to identify five compounds never found in other Acari species. However, one compound, 2-Propyl-1-pentanol, was already found in feces extracts of Bedbugs Cimex hemipterus (Fabricius, 1803).
These preliminary results allow to discuss potential changes of parameters for future studies. Other VOCs sampling technics are considered and future behavioral experiments are planned. Perspectives for an application of the attractive compounds in the field are evocated. They could be used in an “attract and kill” trap if coupled to a biological acaricide such as entomopathogenic fungi or silica dust.