Optical brightener M2R destroys the peritrophic membrane of Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae.

Observations under an environmental scanning electron microscope showed that the peritrophic membrane (PM) of Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) was smooth without pores, but there were many pores and slits in the PM of larvae fed with 10 g L(-1) optical brightener Calcofluor white M2R. After incubation of S. exigua PM in vitro with 10 g L(-1) M2R, a significant amount of proteins was released from the PM structure. M2R disrupted the structure of larval PM, resulting in greatly increased permeability and increased larval susceptibility to Syngrapha falcifera multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus infection. Continuous feeding of larvae on a diet treated with a 10 g L(-1) M2R solution significantly retarded larval development and resulted in high mortality. The destructive effect of M2R on PM was transient and reversible, depending on the presence of M2R within the midgut. Copyright 2007 Society of Chemical Industry.