Developmental inhibitory effect of the Syzygium aromaticum essential oil on the postembryonic stages of a polyphagous pest, Pericallia ricini (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)

Abstract

ABSTRACT The chemical composition of Syzygium aromaticum essential oil (EO), and its efficacy on the development and metamorphosis of polyphagous pest, Pericallia ricini was assessed. The chemical composition of the S. aromaticum EO was analysed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry method. The major volatile components present in the EO were eugenol, β-caryophyllene, caryophyllenyl alcohol, α-humulene, clovene, globulol, and eugenyl acetate. For topical bioassay, EO was tested against the sixth (penultimate) and seventh (ultimate) larval instars of P. ricini resulted in the disruption of normal moulting and metamorphosis, leading to various developmental aberrations. The results comprised larval mortality, delayed larval-larval, and larval-pupal ecdysis duration, ecdysial failure, formation of non-viable intermediates, emergence of abnormal adults, reduced pupation, and inhibition of total adult emergence. This study also reports about the juvenoid nature of clove oil for the first time. Our finding demonstrates that S. aromaticum EO has significant negative effects on P. ricini, and suggests that it can be implemented for the successful control of this economically important insect.