Essential oils extracted from Piper aduncum L. (Piperaceae) are mainly comprised of phenylpropanoid dillapiol, a group of substances widely known by their insecticide and synergistic properties. The abundance of P. aduncum in the state of Acre, and the need to control the bean leaf beetle, Cerotoma tingomarianus Bechyné motivated this study, which examined the toxic effects of P. aduncum oil on these beetles. Mortality rate, survival and foliar consumption were used to evaluate the effects of topical (LD50 and LT50) and contact (filter-paper) (LC50) applications of different oil concentrations. The toxicity of P. aduncum oil to C. tingomarianus was high with: LC50 of 0.06 ml/cm² and LD50 of 0.002 ml/mg of the insect. For contact (filter-paper) applications, the mortality rate was nearly 100% at oil concentrations of 1%, whereas for topical applications, the mortality rate changed from 5% to 30%. Oil concentrations of 2.5% and 5% significantly reduced the foliar consumption by the beetles. Oil concentrations above 5% greatly reduced the LT50. Contact application (filter-paper) of P. aduncum oils have, therefore, insecticide effects on C. tingomarianus, when applied at 0,04 % concentration. In case of topical application, these oils can cause physiological problems, when used at concentrations higher than 2.5%.
Dillapiol; essential oil; botanical insecticide
