Chronic toxicity of essential oils of 3 local aromatic plants towards Sitophilus zeamais Motsch. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
Keywords:
Aromatic plants, chemical control, essential oils, feeding deterrence, Sitophilus zeamais, oviposition.Abstract
The maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais is a major stored grain pest currently controlled by chemical pesticides.
This commonly used control method to prevent post-harvest losses leads to pollution of the environment and
intoxication of consumers. Essential oils of aromatic plants are more considered as good control alternative
tools. The amount of active volatile of essential oils present in granaries is almost as infra lethal doses. The
present work aimed to analyse the chronic toxicity of low doses of essential oils of Annona senegalensis Pers.
(Annonaceae), Hyptis spicigera L. (Lamiaceae) and Lippia rugosa L. (Verbenaceae). These plants are toxic to the
pest at high doses. At the dose 2.5 x 10-2 ml/ml, they all reduced the oviposition of S. zeamais. Moreover L.
rugosa and H. spicigera were the most active of the biological potential of S. zeamais reducing significantly its
amount of grains attacked (F = 8.63**) and that of the rejected flour (F = 41.04***). This chronic toxicity therefore
prevents grains from destruction.
