The house longhorn beetle, Hylotrupes bajulus L., is a recognized wood pest with larvae capable of infesting and damaging various wood species. The larvae’s wood-cutting capability is attributed to the metal-reinforced chitin in their mandibles, which provides enhanced mechanical strength. This reinforcement is due to the presence of metal ions such as zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) bound to the chitin structure. The present study investigates the potential of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), a chelating agent, to sequester these crucial metal ions thereby affecting the larvae’s feeding capability. Wood samples treated with varying doses of DTPA showed significant larval mortality, with a 100% rate at a dose of 6 g/l. Electron microscopic analyses of deceased larvae revealed an absence of Zn in their mandibles, suggesting that DTPA effectively reduces its bioavailability, hindering mandible strengthening. The toxicity profile of DTPA is lower compared to many traditional wood treatments, indicating a potential for reduced environmental impact. However, the full spectrum of DTPA’s preservation capabilities and its interactions with other organisms require further investigation.

长角甲虫Hylotrupes bajulus L. 是一种公认​​的木材害虫，其幼虫能够侵染和破坏各种木材树种。幼虫的木材切割能力归因于其下颌骨中的金属强化甲壳素，这提供了增强的机械强度。这种增强是由于存在与甲壳质结构结合的金属离子，例如锌 (Zn) 和锰 (Mn)。本研究调查了螯合剂二亚乙基三胺五乙酸 (DTPA) 螯合这些重要金属离子从而影响幼虫摄食能力的潜力。用不同剂量的 DTPA 处理的木材样品显示出显着的幼虫死亡率，剂量为 6 g/l 时幼虫死亡率为 100%。对死亡幼虫的电子显微镜分析显示，它们的下颌骨中不含锌，这表明 DTPA 有效降低了其生物利用度，阻碍了下颌骨的强化。与许多传统木材处理剂相比，DTPA 的毒性较低，这表明有可能减少对环境的影响。然而，DTPA 的全方位保存能力及其与其他生物体的相互作用需要进一步研究。