Lethal and Sublethal Effects of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Mentha piperita Essential Oils on the Khapra Beetle (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) in Terms of Feeding Inhibition, Oviposition, and Seed Damage.

Abstract

Trogoderma granarium Everts, the Khapra beetle, is a major pest of stored products, especially grains. In this study, fumigant toxicity and sublethal effects of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. (Myrtaceae) and Mentha piperita L. (Lamiaceae) essential oils (EOs) were investigated against different growth stages of T. granarium. To assess the sublethal effects, insects were exposed to an LC20 or LC50 concentration of each essential oil, and the ability of these oils to deter feeding, oviposition, and damage to wheat seeds and overall mass were surveyed. At LC50 concentrations, M. piperita EO showed higher fumigant toxicity than E. camaldulensis EO against eggs, 2nd instar larvae, 4th instar larvae, and adults of T. granarium. Furthermore, the adults were more sensitive to the tested EOs than immatures. In free-choice tests, both larvae and adults showed a preference for control-treated wheat seeds than for seeds treated with an LC20 or LC50 concentration of EOs from E. camaldulensis or M. piperita. In a no-choice test, adult females exposed to EOs showed lower fecundity and fertility in comparison to control females not exposed to EOs. Treatment of wheat seeds with E. camaldulensis or M. piperita EOs resulted in a dose-specific reduction in the number of damaged seeds and seed weight loss when compared to control. According to our results, both tested EOs, especially EOs extracted from M. piperita, showed good potential for use in integrated pest management strategies against T. granarium.