The Potency of Essential Oils in Combating Stored-Product Pests: From Nature to Nemesis

The Potency of Essential Oils in Combating Stored-Product Pests: From Nature to Nemesis

<i>Sitophilus oryzae</i>, <i>Tribolium castaneum</i>, <i>Tribolium confusum</i>, <i>Oryzaephilus surinamensis</i>, <i>Rhyzopertha dominica</i>, <i>Tenebrio molitor</i>, <i>Trogoderma granarium</i>, <i>Acarus si...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors:	Nickolas G. Kavallieratos, Nikoleta Eleftheriadou, Constantin S. Filintas, Maria C. Boukouvala, Demeter Lorentha S. Gidari, Anna Skourti, Dionysios Ntinokas, Marta Ferrati, Eleonora Spinozzi, Riccardo Petrelli, Filippo Maggi
Format:	Article
Language:	English
Published:	MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:	Plants
Subjects:	integrated pest management eco-friendly insecticides pest control storage pests mortality adults
Online Access:	https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/192
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Summary:	<i>Sitophilus oryzae</i>, <i>Tribolium castaneum</i>, <i>Tribolium confusum</i>, <i>Oryzaephilus surinamensis</i>, <i>Rhyzopertha dominica</i>, <i>Tenebrio molitor</i>, <i>Trogoderma granarium</i>, <i>Acarus siro</i>, and <i>Alphitobius diaperinus</i> represent significant arthropod stored-product pests worldwide. To combat these noxious arthropods, the current study examines the pesticidal effect of essential oils (EOs) derived from four aromatic plants, i.e., <i>Illicium verum</i> Hook. F., <i>Citrus reticulata</i> Blanco, <i>Monodora myristica</i> (Gaertn.) Dunal, and <i>Xylopia aethiopica</i> (Dunal) A. Rich. Considering the challenge of pesticide resistance, the current study focuses on assessing the efficacy of these EOs as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional synthetic insecticides. Two EO concentrations (500 and 1000 µL/kg wheat) were applied to different life stages of these pests in the bioassays. Mortality rates were monitored over several days under controlled environmental conditions. The findings demonstrated that <i>C. reticulata</i> and <i>I. verum</i> EOs had elevated insecticidal effects, especially against larval stages, resulting in 100% mortality in several species. On the contrary, <i>M. myristica</i> and <i>X. aethiopica</i> EOs showed less overall efficacy despite their potency against some pests. Both <i>I. verum</i> and <i>C. reticulata</i> EOs outperformed the positive control, pirimiphos-methyl, in several assays. The results of the current study highlight the potential of several EOs as effective alternatives in reducing synthetic pesticide use for integrated pest control management.
ISSN:	2223-7747