Evaluation of the Toxicity of Satureja intermedia C. A. Mey Essential Oil to Storage and Greenhouse Insect Pests and a Predator Ladybird

Abstract

The use of chemical insecticides has had several side-effects, such as environmental contamination, foodborne residues, and human health threats. The utilization of plant-derived essential oils as efficient bio-rational agents has been acknowledged in pest management strategies. In the present study, the fumigant toxicity of essential oil isolated from Satureja intermedia was assessed against cosmopolitan stored-product insect pests: Trogoderma granarium Everts (khapra beetle), Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) (lesser grain borer), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (red flour beetle), and Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (saw-toothed grain beetle). The essential oil had significant fumigant toxicity against tested insects, which positively depended on essential oil concentrations and the exposure times. Comparative contact toxicity of S. intermedia essential oil was measured against Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe (oleander aphid) and its predator Coccinella septempunctata L. (seven-spot ladybird). Adult females of A. nerii were more susceptible to the contact toxicity than the C. septempunctata adults. The dominant compounds in the essential oil of S. intermedia were thymol (48.1%), carvacrol (11.8%), p-cymene (8.1%), and γ-terpinene (8.1%). The high fumigant toxicity against four major stored-product insect pests, the significant aphidicidal effect on A. nerii, and relative safety to the general predator C. septempunctata make terpene-rich S. intermedia essential oil a potential candidate for use as a plant-based alternative to the detrimental synthetic insecticides.

Toxicity, Deterrent and Repellent Activities of Four Essential Oils on Aphis punicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

“…In the present study, the effects of the EOs varied according to the plant species and concentration, where the mortality rates increased with an increase in the EO concentration for all EOs on both A. punicae and C. undecimpunctata . This finding is in agreement with many previous investigations [ 44 , 45 , 46 ]. Moreover, all tested concentrations for all tested EOs had the highest toxicity for A. punicae compared to C. undecimpunctata.…”

Chemical Profiles and Insecticidal Potential of Essential Oils Isolated from Four Thymus Species against Rhyzopertha dominica (F.)

“…The promising insecticidal effects of plant-derived essential oils fumigated on several stored product insect pests have been reported [8][9][10]. Recently, the insecticidal activities of essential oils against R. dominica were reported: The significant fumigant toxicity of essential oil extracted from Satureja intermedia C. A. Mey was revealed against the adults Plants 2022, 11, 1567 2 of 17 of R. dominica which positively depended on the concentration of the essential oil and the exposure times [11]. In another study, along with considerable lethality, the fumigation with Anethum graveolens L. and Melaleuca cajuputi Powell essential oils resulted in significant reduction in total protein and detoxifying enzymes (esterases and glutathione-S-transferase) activity of R. dominica adults [12].…”

Analysis of the Essential Oils ofEucalyptus camaldulensisDehnh. andE. viminalisLabill. as a Contribution to Fortify Their Insecticidal Application

“…The analysis was done using an HP-5 MS capillary column (30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 µm), according to Ebadollahi and Setzer. 45 The carrier gas was helium (99.999%) with a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Each of the essential oils was diluted in methanol (1:10), and 1 µL of the solution was injected.…”