Insecticidal and repellent activities of four essential oils against Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Authors: FOUAD, H - Sohag University; GOMES DA CAMARA, C - Universidade Federal De Vicosa; MARTINS DE MORAES, M - Universidade Federal De Vicosa; TAVARES, W - Universidade Federal De Vicosa; Legaspi, Jesusa; ZANUNCIO, J - Universidade Federal De Vicosa

Submitted to: Dose Response
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/10/2023
Publication Date: 11/20/2023
Citation: Fouad, H.A., Gomes Da Camara, C.A., Martins De Moraes, M., Tavares, W.D., Legaspi, J.C., Zanuncio, J.C. 2023. Insecticidal and repellent activities of four essential oils against Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Dose Response. 21(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/15593258231210263.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/15593258231210263

Interpretive Summary: The maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais, is a major insect pest of stored grains and especially impactful for stored maize. This pest and other stored grain pest species are responsible for billions of dollars of economic losses per year due to direct damage and fouling of the stored grain. In a team effort, researchers from Sohag University, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Ltd., Universidade Federal de Viçosa, as well as scientists from USDA-ARS-CMAVE in Tallahassee, FL, evaluated the efficacy of essential oils of several plants, Corymbia citriodora, Melaleuca alternifolia, Mentha × piperita and Schinus terebinthifolius and their major compounds, to control S. zeamais adults. Results revealed toxicity to several oils at different levels to S. zeamais through residual contact, digestive and respiratory systems and repellency to adults at lower levels. Melaleuca alternifolia oil was the most active in contact, ingestion, and fumigant bioassays and several constituents (citronellal, terpinen-4-ol, menthol and ß-caryophyllene) provided insecticidal properties against S. zeamais. These results indicate promise for the use of natural plant products in a pest management program to control the maize weevil in stored grains.

Technical Abstract: The maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky), 1855 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is among the key pests of stored grains and their products worldwide, especially maize, Zea mays L. (Poaceae). This insect and other stored grain pest species cause billions of dollars of economic losses per year. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of essential oils of Corymbia citriodora (Hook.) K.D. Hill & L.A.S. Johnson (Myrtaceae), Melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden & Betche) Chee (Myrtaceae), Mentha × piperita L. (Lamiaceae) and Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Anacardiaceae) and their major compounds, analysed by GC-MS, as an alternative to manage S. zeamais adults. The C. citriodora, M. alternifolia, M. × piperita, and S. terebinthifolius oils were toxic at different levels to S. zeamais through residual contact, digestive and respiratory systems, and were also repellent to adults of this pest. Melaleuca alternifolia oil was the most active in contact (LC50= 18.98 µL mL–1), ingestion (LC50= 1.03 µL g–1) and fumigant (LC50= 20.05 µL L–1 air) bioassays. The citronellal (53.6% in C. citriodora), terpinen-4-ol (46.9% in M. alternifolia), menthol (44.8% in M. × piperita) and ß-caryophyllene (16.2% in S terebinthifolius) are the major compounds of these oils, all with insecticidal properties against S. zeamais.