Entomology, Ornithology & Herpetology: Current Research
Open Access

Abstract

Antifeedant Activities of Essential Oils of Satureja hortensis and Fumaria parviflora against Indian Meal Moth Plodia interpunctella Hṻbner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Shahab-Ghayoor H and Saeidi K

Environmental friendly pesticides with a natural origin can be used as an alternative to chemicals in pests control programs. Efficiency of plant extracts from Satureja hortensis and Fumaria parviflora was tested against the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella H?bner for its antifeedant activity. The nutritional indices: relative growth rate (RGR), relative consumption rate (RCR), efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) and feeding deterrence index (FDI) were analysed for first-instar larvae (15 d-old). Treatments were evaluated by the method of flour disk bioassay in the dark, at 27 ± 1°C and 60 ± 5% R.H. Concentrations at 0, 0.1, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5 and 2 μL/disk were prepared from each essential oil and 10 first instar larvae (15 day-old) were introduced into each treatment. After 72 h, nutritional indices were calculated. Results indicated that S. hortensis oil was highly effective compared to F. parviflora and significantly decreased the relative growth rate and relative consumption rate. Also, in higher concentration (2 μL/disk), the efficiency of conversion of ingested food (9.843%) was significantly low. The S. hortensis oil was more effective on feeding deterrence index than F. parviflora.