Inulase had received little attention and there were conflicting statements about its availability in animals.Adapted anthrone-sulfuric acid and Nelson-Somogyi reagents were used for identifying fructose concentration in inulin hydrolyzed by insect and aerobic bacteria extracts as a measure of inulase activity.Bacteria isolated from the insect’s gut were grown in nutrient agar and their extracts were used in hydrolyzing inulin. Aerobic bacteria-free insect extracts were obtained by injecting aureomycin into the gut of the cockroaches.There was no significant aureomycin effect on inulase production by the insects. The greatest inulase activity was around the gastric ceaca region. The major inulase requirement of the insects was met by gastric ceaca region production and not by the bacteria. The assertion that inulase may not be found in animal workd (Bernfeld 1962, Doby 1965, Hoar 1966) is unsupported. Periplaneta americana (Linnaeus) and Blaberus giganteus (Linnaeus) have inulase in their gastric caeca regions.Studies of inulase could lead to better understanding of cockroach physiology and their symbionts. If inulase is eventually synthesized in the laboratory a significant amount of inulin energy would become available to man through the use of synthetic inulase.Honors CollegeBall State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

There is a need for effective and environmentally sensitive methods of controlling vertebrate pest problems in agriculture and urban environment. Nonlethal natural repellents may meet this need where more traditional methods of control, such as scaring, shooting, and trapping, are either ineffectual or unacceptable. Neem (Azadirachta indica A Juss) extracts: oil, seed and leaf powder and chemicals from cockroach (Blaberus giganteus L.) were tested for their repellent properties. In addition defensive volatiles from B. giganteus were tested in an arena based on choice by smell (cheese or insect volatiles). This arena test used laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus Berk.); females were more active than males. Both sexes visited the holes with cheese more than holes containing insect's volatiles. However in a feeding test with one choice of food the control did not differ from the treatment. Neem products seem to act as antifeedant on rats: neem seed oil, neem seed powder and neem leaf powder reduced rats feeding respectively at concentration of 15 ml of oil/kg, 15--50 g of seed powder/kg, and 25--50 g of leaf powder/kg of rat chow. Overall neem leaf powder was less effective than seed powder and oil. Neem and insect products may have potential in controlling rats particularly in storage situation, which could lead to an important reduction of post-harvest loss of grains in Sahelian and Asian countries.

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