Insecticidal and antibacterial effects of some essential oils against the poultry pest Alphitobius diaperinus and its associated microorganisms

ARENA, JULIETA SOLEDAD; MERLO, CAROLINA; DEFAGÓ, MARÍA TERESA; ZYGADLO, JULIO ALBERTO

JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

Año: 2020 vol. 93 p. 403 - 414

1612-4758

Alphitobius diaperinus is a worldwide poultry pest which causes several problems, including the dispersion of pathogenicmicroorganisms. This study aimed to evaluate the insecticidal activity of fve essential oils (EOs) against A. diaperinus andtheir antimicrobial activity against some pathogenic bacteria transmitted by this insect and against the mesophilic bacteriapresent on its external surface. The chemical composition of the EOs was determined, with the major components being:α-thujone in Aloysia polystachya EO; limonene in Citrus sinensis EO; 1,8-cineole in Eucalyptus globulus EO; terpinoleneand thymol in Origanum vulgare EO; and eugenol in Syzygium aromaticum EO. The EO of A. polystachya showed thehighest fumigant activity (LC50 = 27.25 µL/L of air), followed by E. globulus EO (LC50 = 36.49 µL/L of air). The EOs of S.aromaticum, O. vulgare, and A. polystachya revealed high contact toxicity, with LC50 values of 0.052, 0.128, and 0.135 µL/cm2, respectively. In addition, EOs obtained from O. vulgare and S. aromaticum strongly inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and signifcantly reduced the microbial load of the insect. Syzigium aromaticum andO. vulgare afected both insects and bacteria, making them promising candidates to replace synthetic insecticides or to beincorporated into current strategies for the management of A. diaperinus, and also helping to reduce the bacteria associatedwith this coleopteran. To our knowledge, this is the frst report of the insecticidal activity of the fve selected EOs on A.diaperinus adults, as well as the efect of EOs on the microbial load of insects.