Essential Oils and Their Components Control Behaviour of Yellow Mealworm (<i>Tenebrio molitor)</i> Larvae
Beetle <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> L. (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) is a well-known pest of grain and flour in food stores and grocery shops. Recently, commercial cultivation of the insect was started for human food and animal feed. Behaviour control of this insect using natural repellents is...
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/7/636 |
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| author | Gabrielė Bumbulytė Jurga Būdienė Vincas Būda |
| author_facet | Gabrielė Bumbulytė Jurga Būdienė Vincas Būda |
| author_sort | Gabrielė Bumbulytė |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Beetle <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> L. (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) is a well-known pest of grain and flour in food stores and grocery shops. Recently, commercial cultivation of the insect was started for human food and animal feed. Behaviour control of this insect using natural repellents is promising both for grain protection and commercial cultivation. We analysed if natural products of plant origin, namely essential oils (EOs), could be used for this purpose. Behavioural tests were performed using EOs of six plants: thymus (<i>Thymus vulgaris</i>), eucalyptus (<i>Eucalyptus globulus</i>), spearmint (<i>Mentha spicata</i>), lavandin (<i>Lavandula</i> × <i>hybrida</i>), East-Indian lemongrass (<i>Cymbopogon flexuosus</i>), and clove (<i>Eugenia caryophyllus</i>). The most effective repellent for mealworm larvae was EO of spearmint, moderate activity showed that of clove and the least repellent were EOs of lemongrass thymus and lavandin. EO of eucalyptus caused almost no or very low effect. Six of the most abundant compounds of the EOs were selected for testing. The most effective single compounds were terpinene-4-ol and carvone, low-effective cis-sabinene hydrates and those of no significant activity were limonene, myrcene and <i>γ</i>-terpinene. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:58:28Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:58:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-2fdd34859e524a73b76a86eb5da382ac2023-11-18T19:49:20ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502023-07-0114763610.3390/insects14070636Essential Oils and Their Components Control Behaviour of Yellow Mealworm (<i>Tenebrio molitor)</i> LarvaeGabrielė Bumbulytė0Jurga Būdienė1Vincas Būda2Laboratory of Chemical and Behavioural Ecology, Nature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaLaboratory of Chemical and Behavioural Ecology, Nature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaLaboratory of Chemical and Behavioural Ecology, Nature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaBeetle <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> L. (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) is a well-known pest of grain and flour in food stores and grocery shops. Recently, commercial cultivation of the insect was started for human food and animal feed. Behaviour control of this insect using natural repellents is promising both for grain protection and commercial cultivation. We analysed if natural products of plant origin, namely essential oils (EOs), could be used for this purpose. Behavioural tests were performed using EOs of six plants: thymus (<i>Thymus vulgaris</i>), eucalyptus (<i>Eucalyptus globulus</i>), spearmint (<i>Mentha spicata</i>), lavandin (<i>Lavandula</i> × <i>hybrida</i>), East-Indian lemongrass (<i>Cymbopogon flexuosus</i>), and clove (<i>Eugenia caryophyllus</i>). The most effective repellent for mealworm larvae was EO of spearmint, moderate activity showed that of clove and the least repellent were EOs of lemongrass thymus and lavandin. EO of eucalyptus caused almost no or very low effect. Six of the most abundant compounds of the EOs were selected for testing. The most effective single compounds were terpinene-4-ol and carvone, low-effective cis-sabinene hydrates and those of no significant activity were limonene, myrcene and <i>γ</i>-terpinene.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/7/636insect behaviourrepellentstored-food insectbioassaypest control |
| spellingShingle | Gabrielė Bumbulytė Jurga Būdienė Vincas Būda Essential Oils and Their Components Control Behaviour of Yellow Mealworm (<i>Tenebrio molitor)</i> Larvae Insects insect behaviour repellent stored-food insect bioassay pest control |
| title | Essential Oils and Their Components Control Behaviour of Yellow Mealworm (<i>Tenebrio molitor)</i> Larvae |
| title_full | Essential Oils and Their Components Control Behaviour of Yellow Mealworm (<i>Tenebrio molitor)</i> Larvae |
| title_fullStr | Essential Oils and Their Components Control Behaviour of Yellow Mealworm (<i>Tenebrio molitor)</i> Larvae |
| title_full_unstemmed | Essential Oils and Their Components Control Behaviour of Yellow Mealworm (<i>Tenebrio molitor)</i> Larvae |
| title_short | Essential Oils and Their Components Control Behaviour of Yellow Mealworm (<i>Tenebrio molitor)</i> Larvae |
| title_sort | essential oils and their components control behaviour of yellow mealworm i tenebrio molitor i larvae |
| topic | insect behaviour repellent stored-food insect bioassay pest control |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/7/636 |
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