Abstract

PINTO JUNIOR, Airton Rodrigues et al. Bioactivity of essential oils of Brazilian sassafras and eucalyptus against lesser mealworm. Cienc. Rural [online]. 2010, vol.40, n.3, pp. 637-643.  Epub Feb 26, 2010. ISSN 0103-8478.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-84782010005000026.

This research aimed to evaluate the sassafras (Ocotea odorifera) and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus viminalis) essential oils on the control of larvae and adults of lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus), comparing their insecticide potential. The essential oils were produced through water vapor extraction in a semi industrial scale. Contaminated paper filter technique was applied to evaluate the insect mortality. In the current experiment twelve concentrations were included for evaluation and among them one control (solvent) in order to settle the mortality rate and LC50 of the two tested essential oils. The larvae were more susceptible then the adults to sassafras essential oil exposure and less susceptible than the adults, when exposed to eucalypt essential oil. Larvae as well as adults of A. diaperinus were more susceptible to the sassafras (LC50 adults 0.26mL l^-1 and larvae 0.12mL l^-1) than the eucalyptus essential oil (LC50 adults 1.37mL l^-1 and larvae 1.72mL l^-1), by contact intoxication (Ocotea odorifera: Larvae y=3,3916+1,4699logx; Adult y=0,9486+2,8576logx; e Eucaliptus viminalis: Larvae y=1,3643+1,6254logx; Adult y=1,4487+1,6623logx). It is concluded that the essential oils of sassafras and eucalyptus can be used to control lesser mealworm and used as a new integrated strategy for management of this pest.

Keywords : poultry raising; Ocotea odorifera; Eucalyptus viminalis; semiochemicals; bioactive compounds.