Efficiency of Ferulago angulata (Schlecht.) Boiss. and Ballota aucheri Boiss. essential oils on nutritional indices of Tribolium castaneum (Col.: Tenebrionidae)

Essential oils are considered as suitable components, which can be used as alternatives for chemical pesticides. In this research, the effects of essential oils of two medicinal plants, Ballota aucheri Boiss. and Ferulago angulate (Schlecht.) Boiss., were studied on nutritional indices of adult insects of Tribolium castaneum, which is one of the most important stored product pests. In this study, Relative Growth Rate (RGR), Relative Consumption Rate (RCR), Efficacy of Conversion of Ingested Food (ECI), and Feeding Deterrence Index (FDI) were evaluated. Different concentrations of each essential oil, including 0, 0.4, 0.6, 1, 2 and 3µl/disk, were examined. In each treatment, 10 adult insects were tested. Insects’ ingested food and weight gained were measured after three days. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design with five replications. Results showed that F. angulata was highly effective compared to B. aucheri and significantly decreased the RGR and RCR. The essential oil of F. angulata was more effective than that of B. aucheri on FDI.