Insecticidal activity of essential oils derived from lavender, laurel and peppermint against lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius, 1792) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)

Abstract

Fumigant effects of the essential oils from Laurus nobilis L., 1753 (Laurales: Lauraceae), Mentha piperita L., 1753 and Lavandula x intermedia Emeric ex Loisel, 1828 (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) were determined using the lesser grain borer [Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius, 1792) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae)], an important pest species of stored grains. The experiments were conducted in the 2021 in the Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Malatya Turgut Özal University. The experiments were conducted in a controlled-climate chamber at 27 ± 1°C, 50 ± 10% RH and in the dark. The fumigant effects of essential oils were determined at five concentrations (1, 5, 20, 50 and 200 μl/L air) with larva, pupa and adult stages of R. dominica. The highest fumigant effect was with R. dominica larvae was complete mortality with 200 μl/L L. nobilis essential oil and for the adults, 200μl/L of either L. nobilis and M. piperita essential oil also caused complete mortality. However, the complete mortality of pupal stage was not obtained and the highest mortality was 49% with L. nobilis. As a result, it is considered that both L. nobilis and M. piperita essential oils have the potential to be used as effective biofumigants for stored product pests.