The Insecticidal and Repellent Activity of Soil Containing Cinnamon Leaf debris against Red Imported Fire Ant Workers

Zhi-Xiang Zhang

doi:10.13102/sociobiology.v62i1.46-51

Abstract

In the study, the amount of cinnamaldehyde and eugenol in soil containing cinnamon leaf debris were determined at different depths by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The insecticidal activity and repellence of the soil was tested separately. Results showed that higher contents of cinnamic aldehyde and eugenol were found in soil at depths of 5 - 10 cm. In the insecticidal toxicity bioassay, the corrected mortality of major workers treated with cinnamon soil at depths of 5 - 10 cm, which was higher than the other soil depths, increased from 13.3% to 80.0% with contact time from 1 - 5 d. Likewise, the corrected mortality of minor workers also increased from 6.7% to 100.0%. In the repellent activity bioassay, the repellency (96.3%) of major and minor workers treated with cinnamon soil at depths of 5 - 10 cm for 24 h were significantly higher than the other treatments. This result revealed ecological value of cinnamon. Soil underneath cinnamon contained cinnamaldehyde and eugenol from fallen leaves, and these components showed insecticidal activity and repellence against red imported fire ants. Perhaps we could control the red imported fire ants by planting cinnamon in some possible regions or by incorporating cinnamon leaves into soil where cinnamon will not grow.

Highlights

The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), from Parana River basin of South America, is a voracious consumer of numerous other arthropod species, and often is the most abundant predaceous arthropod in crop fields throughout United States, New Zealand, and Australia (Nattrass & Vanderwoude, 2001; Ascunce et al, 2011)
Traditional methods for managing the red imported fire ant are through insecticides or baits might lead to groundwater contamination, nontarget species, and other environmental considerations, more consumers are turning to organic solutions for their pest problems. (Vogt et al, 2002)
The study of Cinnamon soil indicated effective insecticidal and repellent activities against red imported fire ant. This may be caused by some components like cinnamaldehyde and eugenol in fallen leaves

Summary

Introduction

The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), from Parana River basin of South America, is a voracious consumer of numerous other arthropod species, and often is the most abundant predaceous arthropod in crop fields throughout United States, New Zealand, and Australia (Nattrass & Vanderwoude, 2001; Ascunce et al, 2011). They were introduced to mainland China in 2005 (Zhang et al, 2007) and widely distributed in South China, causing severe damage to humans, animals, and the environment. In a previous study on the anti-termitic activity of essential oils and their chemical constituents, 5 mg/g each of benzaldehyde, R-terpineol, neral, geraniol, eugenol, cinnamyl alcohol, and cinnamaldehyde exhibit 100% mortality after 1 d post-treatment (Chang & Cheng, 2002)

Methods

Results

Conclusion