Fumigation Activity of Essential Oil of Cinnamonum Loureirii Against Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis Invicta) Workers

Abstract

Abstract The high toxicity, long-lasting residues, and resistance to chemical pesticides and baits used in the control of red imported fire ants could possibly harm human health and ecological balance. Natural compounds would be an excellent source of pesticides because of their good repellency and insecticidal properties. In this study, the fumigation method was used to study the insecticidal effects of essential oils from the bark and leaves of Cinnamomum loureirii Nees on red imported fire ants at different concentrations and fumigation time. The fumigation time with C. loureirii essential oils was positively correlated with the knockdown ability and mortality in red imported fire ants and was negatively correlated with grasping ability. The insecticidal activity of the essential oil extracted from C. loureirii leaves was significantly higher than that of the essential oils extracted from bark at effective concentrations. Cinnamyl acetate, an abundant component in leaf essential oil, plays an important role in improving the insecticidal activity of trans-cinnamaldehyde. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of cinnamon leaf oil as a new environmentally friendly insecticide resource for the control of red imported fire ants.