Study on the fumigant insecticide effect of essential oil of five medicinal plants on three stored product pests

Essential oils are suitable components as alternate for chemical pesticides. Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella Hubner Tribolium confusum Herbst and Callosobruchus chinensis are some of the most important stored product pests. In this research, insecticidal effects of essential oils of five medicinal plants have been studied on these pests. Plants are included Achillea wilhelmsii, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Artemisia absinthium, Rosmarinus officinalis and Foeniculum vulgare that essential oils extracted by hydrodistilation method. Insecticide activity of essential oils studied on adults of T. confusum and C. chinensis and first instars larvae P. interpunctella. Cinnamon had the most insecticide activity on all insects especially Indian meal moth and the least insecticide activity were observed by absenthin and rosemary on Tribolium. There is significant difference between insecticide effects of essential oil on three pests. Also by increasing doses mortality increased. These results showed essential oils, especially Cinnamon have a good potential for using in warehouses instead of fumigant pesticides as insecticide.