engleski

Toxicity of naturally occurring compounds of Dalmatian (Croatia) Lamiaceae and Lauraceae to maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais Motsch)

Maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais Motsch.) is the major stored pest of Coleoptera order. It belongs to the group of economically important pests of stored grain. In Croatia, maize weevil can be more frequently found in storages of small-scale farms than in large storage facilities or silos. This is ascribed to its higher resistance to lower temperatures in distinction from the remaining pests of Sitophilus genus. Present measures of stored pest control are mainly based on application of synthetic insecticides and fumigants. However, their non-selective and uncritical application in storage facilities brings up some serious issues, such as toxic effects to the grain that is used in diet for people and livestock (Fishwick, 1988), and contamination of the environment (WMO, 1995). In practice in Croatia, phosphine is presently in use in stored pest control. However, fumigation with phosphine should be also limited for evident increase in the resistance of some pest species to a phosphine compound, which has been observed in more than 45 countries (Bell and Wilson, 1995). This means that phosphine in use can and has to be limited on the global level. Therefore, there is a necessity to find safe alternatives to the conventional insecticides and fumigants that would protect grain and its products (Rozman et al. 2006). This investigation proved that certain compounds (monoterpenes) of Dalmatian essential oil extracts of the families Lamiaceae and Lauraceae, respectively: lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Ch.), laurel (Laurus nobilis L.), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) exhibited toxic activity against maize weevil S. Zeamais which could be used as a new alternative in protection against the pest species.

toxicity ; essential oils ; monoterpens ; Sitophilus zeamais

nije evidentirano