Composition and toxic, repellent and feeding deterrent activity of essential oils against the stored-grain pests Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Background: The composition and bioactivity of essential oils from Tagetes terniflora Kunth, Cymbopogon citratus Stapf. and Elyonurus muticus (Spreng) Kuntz were evaluated against stored-grain pests.

Results: Fumigant and contact toxicities were observed with T. terniflora on adults of both pests. In contact toxicity, this oil was less toxic to Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). Essential oils from C. citratus and E. muticus showed contact toxicity on S. oryzae. All essential oils produced: (a) repellency on larvae and adults of T. castaneum and adults of Sitophilus oryzae (L.); (b) post-ingestive toxicity on T. castaneum larvae and S. oryzae adults and alteration of nutritional index on T. castaneum and S. oryzae adults. Cymbopogon citratus reduced the relative growth rate and the efficiency of conversion of ingested food in T. castaneum larvae. Tagetes terniflora produced a feeding stimulant effect in T. castaneum adults. In addition, they had a feeding deterrent action against S. oryzae adults. The composition of essential oils from C. citratus and E. muticus varied only in one component.

Conclusion: These results showed that the essential oils from T. terniflora, C. citratus and E. muticus should be studied further for their use in integrated pest management programmes for T. castaneum and S. oryzae control.