Chronic Activity of Plant Volatiles Essential Oils in Management of Rice Weevil Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

摘要

Stored food faces severe damage due to infestation by insects. The essential oils extracted from leaves of Aegle marmelos , Mentha arvensis , peels of Citrus reticulata and clove of Syzygium aromaticum by hydrodistillation method were screened as fumigant for chronic activity against rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in laboratory assay. All four essential oils showed chronic activity in a dose dependent manner. Fumigation with sub-lethal concentration of essential oils significantly (0.01) reduced oviposition capsity and exhibited ovicidal activity. Highest reduction in oviposition (35.66%) and feeding deterrence index (74.52%) observed in A. marmelos essential oils against S. oryzae in comparison to control groups. These studies showed strong insecticidal activity of all four essential oils and its potential role as a fumigant against S. oryzae . From this study it is concluded that these essential oils have potential for application in Insect Pest Management programs for stored-grain insect pests because of its fumigant action.