| Abstract [eng] |
The aim of this dissertation is to identify environmentally friendly compounds that determine certain behavioral features of larvae and adults of the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.). The dissertation is structured as follows: a statement of the scientific problem and its relevance, a literature review, a research methodology, results, conclusions, references, and a summary. The findings show that mixtures of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) exhibit a repellent effect on T. molitor. The strongest repellency in larvae was caused by VOCs from Mentha spicata essential oil, while in adults, it was highest for VOCs from grains infected with Aspergillus flavus. Eight compounds affecting T. molitor behavior were identified: six repellents, one attractant, and one with a sex-dependent effect, attracting females but repelling males. For the first time, fatty acids (palmitic, linolenic, and oleic) were shown to inhibit female oviposition. VOCs from T. molitor frass mediate intraspecific interactions: male frass promotes aggregation, while female frass attracts males. Gut microbiota also differs by sex: Spiroplasma predominates in males and Enterococcus in females. For the first time, the widely distributed yeast Hyphopichia burtonii was shown to infect T. molitor cultures, reducing pheromone emission and altering VOC profiles. A marked increase in limonene suggests its suitability as a biomarker for early detection of infection. |
