Influence of essential oils of plants on the migration activity of Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae)

Abstract

Pest control should be ecologically-based, therefore use of ecologically safe approaches is the best variant. Essential oils of plants can affect the main metabolic, biochemical, physiological and behavioural functions of insects. In the experiment, we evaluated the influence of 20 essential oils on migration activity of imagoes of Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val, 1863 in the conditions of a laboratory experiment. Notable repellent activity against T. confusum was exhibited by essential oils of Jasminum officinale and Thuja occidentalis. Essential oils of Zingiber officinale and Cedrus atlantica had an attractant effect on imagoes of T. confusum. Essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis, Melaleuca alternifolia, Lavandula angustifolia and Cinnamomum verum exhibited repellent properties while essential oils of Juniperus communis and Citrus sinensis had an attractant effect on the pests. Therefore, out of 20 studied essential oils, only four samples had notable biological effect on migration activity of T. confusum imagoes. These data indicate the possibility of using essential oils or their main components as ecologically safe natural repellents against pests of stored wheat and products of its processing.

Keywords

• pest control; biopesticides; plant protection; repellent; attractant.