Lethal toxic effect of essential oils of Myrtaceae on Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky under laboratory conditions

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Erislandy José Becerra Fonseca
Cecil González Suárez
Moraima Suris Campos
Heyker Lellani Baños Díaz
Yhosvanni Pérez Rodríguez
Oriela Pino Pérez

Abstract

The effect of essential oils from the Myrtaceae species Callistemon speciosus (Sims) Colvill ex Sweet, Corymbia citriodora (Hook.) K. D. Hill & L. A. S. Johnson, Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh, Eucalyptus deglupta Blume, Eucalyptus robusta Sm., Eucalyptus saligna Sm., Eugenia asperifolia O. Berg, Eugenia axillaris (Sw.) Willd, Eugenia cristata C. Wright, Eugenia farameoides A. Rich., Eugenia monticola (Sw.) DC, Eugenia rhombea (O. Berg) Krug & Urb., Eugenia uniflora L., Myrcia decandra (Griseb.) Z. Acosta & Samra, Myrciaria floribunda (Willd.) O. Berg, Psidium cattleianum Sabine, Psidium montanum Sw., and Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels was evaluated against Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky. Contact toxicity and fumigant effects of these essential oils were determined on adult S. zeamais under laboratory conditions; the essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis L. was used as a positive control. In direct contact toxicity assays, maize grains were mixed with the oils using inert material and subsequently infested with adult weevils. C. speciosus and C. citriodora produced the highest mortality rates via fumigant action; except for R. officinalis, the remaining oils did not exceed 20% mortality. All oils, except E. asperifolia, caused more than 40% mortality by contact. Mortality exceeded 90% with C. speciosus and E. robusta. These results indicate that the essential oil of C. speciosus is a promising candidate for the development of an insecticide to manage S. zeamais populations in storage facilities. 

Article Details

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1.
Becerra Fonseca EJ, González Suárez C, Suris Campos M, Baños Díaz HL, Pérez Rodríguez Y, Pino Pérez O. Lethal toxic effect of essential oils of Myrtaceae on Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky under laboratory conditions. Rev. Protección Veg. [Internet]. 2026 Jan. 12 [cited 2026 May 24];41. Available from: https://censa.edicionescervantes.com/index.php/RPV/article/view/1455
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