Sub-lethal effects of essential oil of Lippia sidoides on drywood termite Cryptotermes brevis (Blattodea: Termitoidea)

Abstract

The drywood termite Cryptotermes brevis (Walker, 1853) (Kalotermitidae) is one of the most important wood structural pest in the world. Substances from the secondary metabolism of plants (e.g., essential oils) have been considered an environmentally safer form of control for urban pests, such as termites. In the present study, we analyzed the lethal and sub-lethal effects of essential oil of Lippia sidoides and its major components on C. brevis pseudergates in two routes of exposure (contact and fumigation). The essential oil of L. sidoides and thymol were more toxic to C. brevis pseudergates when applied by contact (LD = 9.33 and 8.20µgmg, respectively) and by fumigation (LC = 9.10 and 23.6µLL, respectively). In general, treatments changed the individual and collective behaviors of C. brevis pseudergates, as well as the displacement and walking speed. The essential oil of L. sidoides and its major components showed a high potential to control C. brevis pseudergates, due to the bioactivity in the two routes of exposure and the sub-lethal effects on the behavior and walking, important activities for the cohesion of C. brevis colonies.

Insecticidal activity of essential oils of species from the genus Lippia against Nasutitermes corniger (Motschulsky) (Isoptera: Termitidae)

“…The authors found that Pogostemon cablin EO was the most effective (LC 50 ) at 0.32 μl/ ml and 0.29 μl/ ml, concentrations lower than those observed here (Bacci et al,2015), while L. sidoides was less effective, with a median effect on the termites tested at 2.41 and 3.47 μl/ ml, respectively. The insecticidal activity of L sidoides against Cryptotermes brevis (Walker, 1853) (Kalotermitidae) has also been reported using the fumigation test, with CL 50 estimated at 9.10 and 23.6 μL/ L of beans (Santos et al, 2017). It is important to note that individual characteristics such as cuticle thickness, associated with different application methods, can influence inter or intragroup tolerance and resistance (Haddi et al, 2015;Pinto-Zevallos & Zarbin, 2013).…”

“…The insecticidal efficiency of this genus has been reported for the species Lippia gracilis and Lippia sidoides against Sitophilus zeamais (Castro Coitinho et al, 2006), Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus (Costa et al, 2005), respectively. Although these studies reinforce the insecticidal properties of Lippia species against other classes of arthropods, research on the insecticidal potential of other representatives of this genus remains scarce, particularly against termites (Evans & Iqbal, 2015;Santos et al, 2017). Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and insecticidal potential of essential oils of the species Lippia lasiocalycina, Lippia insignis and Lippia thymoides to control Nasutitermes corniger Motsch (Isoptera: Termitidae).…”

Formicidal activity of indole derivatives on Atta opaciceps (Borgmeier): Lethal, behavioural and locomotive effects

“…The individual behaviour bioassays indicated that treated ants do not notice self‐contamination since no self‐grooming increase has been observed, a common behaviour in social insects when they detect the presence of contaminating agents in their integuments (Galvanho et al., ; Santos et al., ).…”

Escaping and repairing behaviors of the termite Odontotermes formosanus (Blattodea: Termitidae) in response to disturbance

“…and patchouli ( Pogostemon cablin [Blanco] Benth.) reduced the collective interactions and walking abilities of various termites ( Bacci et al, 2015 ; Santos et al, 2017 ). Adding these essential oils on the broken mud tubes may interfere with the escaping behaviors of O. formosanus .…”