Chemical composition of Achillea millefolium L. (Asteraceae) essential oil and insecticidal effect against Sitophilus granarius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)

Abstract

Stored product pests are responsible for the quality and quantitative losses worldwide in stored products. Studies on the development of plant-based pest control strategies have been increasing in recent years. In this study, the insecticidal and behavioral effect of essential oil obtained from the Achillea millefolium L. (Asteraceae) plant were measured under laboratory conditions against two main stored product pests, Sitophilus granarius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae). Contact and fumigant activity tests were conducted at 0.10 (v/v) and 0.15 (v/v) concentration, and mortality rates were recorded at the end of the 24th and 48th hours. Pure acetone was used in the control group. Repellent activity tests were established at three different concentrations (0.025 µl/cm2, 0.06 µl/cm2 and 0.125 µl/cm2) and the effects of 2nd, 4th, 8th, and 12th hours were recorded. Additionally, the essential oil composition of A. millefolium was determined by using GC-MS. For both insects, essential oil did not demonstrate significant fumigant activity. At the end of 48 hours, the highest fumigant activity was determined with a mortality rate of 19.7% for R. dominica. This oil did not show any fumigant activity against Sitophilus granarius. At the end of 24 hours, the highest contact activity was determined against R. dominica at the dose of 0.15 (v/v) with a mortality rate of 99.2%. In the same period, the contact activity was determined as 83.4% for S. granarius. Consequently, the essential oil showed significant repellent activity against both pests.