Novel nanopesticides based on essential oils to control the German cockroach

WERDIN GONZÁLEZ; J.O.; STEFANAZZI, N.; MURRAY, A.P.; FERRERO A.A; FERNÁNDEZ BAND, B.S.

JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

Lugar: HEIDELBERG; Año: 2015 vol. 88 p. 393 - 404

1612-4758

The physicochemical characterization and residual insecticidal activity of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) nanoparticles containing essential oils (EO) from geranium (Geranium sp.)and bergamot (Citrus reticulata L.) were evaluated against Blatella germanica for 1 year. The nanoparticles? size increased during the storage time from <235 nm to <450nm; the EO content decreased approximately 50% and the abundance of the majorcomponents did not show any differences between pre- and post-formulation. Thesurface characteristics of nanoparticles were analyzed by Transmission ElectronicMicroscopy. The EOs nanoparticles produced a notable increase of the residual contacttoxicity apparently due to the slow and persistent release of the active terpenes. Inaddition, the nanoformulation enhanced the EO contact toxicity. The results indicate that these novel systems could be used in integrated pest management programs for  the German cockroach.