Essential Oil Headspace Volatiles Prevent Invasive Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) Oviposition—Insights from Electrophysiology and Behaviour

Abstract

The box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis Walker) is an invasive species in Europe causing severe damage both in natural and ornamental boxwood (Buxus spp.) vegetation. Pest management tactics are often based on the use of chemical insecticides, whereas environmentally-friendly control solutions are not available against this insect. The application of essential oils may provide effective protection against oviposition and subsequent larval damage. Oviposition deterrence of cinnamon, eucalyptus and lavender essential oils was tested on female C. perspectalis in behavioural bioassays. Our results indicate that all the studied essential oils may be adequate deterrents; however, cinnamon oil exhibited the strongest effect. To determine the physiologically active compounds in the headspace of the essential oils, gas chromatography coupled with electroantennography recordings were performed in parallel with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify the volatile constituents. In addition, the release rates of various components from vial-wick dispensers were measured during the oviposition bioassay. These results may serve as a basis for the development of a practical and insecticide-free plant protection method against this invasive moth species.

Cinnamon as a Useful Preventive Substance for the Care of Human and Plant Health

“…The authors concluded that these plant extracts and essential oils could be helpful in controlling field populations of S. oryzae and C. chinensis. In another paper on Cydalima perspectalis, the results point to cinnamon oil as a good deterrent with the strongest oviposition-deterring effect [65].…”

“…The results indicated that the insecticidal activity of the tested compounds was attributable to fumigant action, but significant contact toxicity also occurred [59]. Cydalima perspectalis Cinnamon oil as deterrent 1.5 mL in dispenser [65] Source: own study.…”

Comparative Metabolite Profiling and Fingerprinting of Medicinal Cinnamon Bark and Its Commercial Preparations via a Multiplex Approach of GC–MS, UV, and NMR Techniques

“…Authenticated samples, including CA, showed the highest number of peaks with 122 volatiles, while CMV showed the lowest with 107 peaks. In comparison with previous studies, the current approach aided in detecting more, where Szelényi et al reported 67 VOCs in the essential oil of C. verum Schaeff via SPME/GC–MS [ 24 ], only 23 compounds in C. verum Blume essential oil with GC–MS [ 14 ]. Likewise, only 47 compounds were identified in the n-butane extracts of different Cinnamomum species by GC/MS [ 25 ].…”

“…Results showed that a total of 126 peaks were detected belonging to different chemical classes, i.e., acids (6 peaks), alcohols (24), aldehydes/ethers (21), aliphatic hydrocarbons (2), aromatic hydrocarbons (7), esters (22), ketones (6), lactones (3), oxides (3), phenols (5), pyrans/furans (4), and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (23). Authenticated samples, including CA, showed the highest number of peaks with 122 volatiles, while CMV showed the lowest with 107 peaks.…”

The Box Tree Moth: An Invasive Species Severely Threatening Buxus Natural Formation in NW Italy

“…In Europe, several chemical insecticides are authorized on ornamental Buxus plants, but their use is often prohibited in the forestry environment and limited to nurseries. Other control strategies have been investigated in laboratory conditions so far (larval suitability to native parasitoids, oviposition-deterring effect by essential oils, larval susceptibility to baculovirus), but their role needs to be confirmed under field conditions [41][42][43][44][45][46]. Aerial treatments with bioinsecticides based on the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis var.…”