Insecticidal Activity of 25 Essential Oils on the Stored Product Pest, Sitophilus granarius

Abstract

The granary weevil Sitophilus granarius is a stored product pest found worldwide. Environmental damages, human health issues and the emergence of resistance are driving scientists to seeks alternatives to synthetic insecticides for its control. With low mammal toxicity and low persistence, essential oils are more and more being considered a potential alternative. In this study, we compare the toxicity of 25 essential oils, representing a large array of chemical compositions, on adult granary weevils. Bioassays indicated that Allium sativum was the most toxic essential oil, with the lowest calculated lethal concentration 90 (LC90) both after 24 h and 7 days. Gaultheria procumbens, Mentha arvensis and Eucalyptus dives oils appeared to have a good potential in terms of toxicity/cost ratio for further development of a plant-derived biocide. Low influence of exposure time was observed for most of essential oils. The methodology developed here offers the possibility to test a large array of essential oils in the same experimental bioassay and in a standardized way. It is a first step to the development of new biocide for alternative management strategies of stored product pests.

Evaluation of Insecticidal Effects of Plants Essential Oils Extracted from Basil, Black Seeds and Lavender against Sitophilus oryzae

“…In developing countries, loss of cereal foods is considered the major problem due to pest infections through storage [5][6][7]. Many insects, mites, and fungi attack stored cereals and led to a decrease its quality in addition to losses from 9 to 20% [8].…”

Efficacy of Hexane Extracts of Some Plants Against Rice Weevil <i>Sitophilus oryzae</i> (L.) in Stored Maize

“…Extracts of M. spicata and V. negundo 5% showed maximum oral toxicity (90.00%) followed by O. sanctum and T. erecta leaf extract (86.67%) after 72 hr of treatment. Demetre et al (2021) reported that 5% essential oil of M. arvensis, O. sanctum and O. basilicum showed 100, 99.00 and 97.0% mortality of S. granarius, respectively after 24 hr of treatment (Table 1). Oil from V. negundo leaves showed high overall toxicity to the adults of S. zeamais (Liu et al, 2009).…”

Evaluation of Ethyl Acetate Extract of Some Botanicals against Rice Weevil Sitophilus oryzae L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Stored Maize

“…The average (1.5μL/cm 3 ) concentration of M.spicata, M.piperita and M.pulegium oils caused 23.33%, 50.00% and 50% mortality against S. zeamais. Demeter et al (2021) reported that 5% of M.arvensis essential oils showed 100% mortality against S.granarius. and O. sanctum (99.00%) mortality against S.granarius at 24 hours after treatment and O.basilicum essential oils showed 97.70% mortality at 24 hours after treatment against S.granarius.…”