Lethal and sublethal effects of chemical constituents from essential oils on Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) in cowpea stored grains

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The recent use of essential oils has been considered an important approach in pest management programs for stored products. Regarding essential oils, it...     

Deterrent effects of some botanical products on oviposition of the cowpea bruchid Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Extracts from nine plant materials were tested in choice and no-choice tests as oviposition deterrents for cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) on chickpea, Cicer arietinum L. Seed treatment with 0.1% crude extract of materials resulted in a significant reduction in ovipositional preference of the bruchid. The highest repellency was found in Rhazya stricta leaves (82%), Azadirachta indica seeds (76.8%), Heliotropium bacciferum aerial parts (59.2%) and citrus peels (58.6%). Progeny production was significantly reduced: only 11.5, 11.9, 12.4, 13.4 and 14.8% of the eggs deposited reached adulthood in R. stricta, neem seeds, Piper nigrum, citrus peels and H. bacciferum, respectively. F1 females laid significantly fewer eggs in response to R. stricta, neem seeds, Eugenia caryophyllata cloves, H. bacciferum, citrus peels and P. nigrum. Percentage reduction in F₂ progeny ranged between 71.4% with R. stricta-treated seeds and 24.5% in the P. nigrum treatment.     

Bioefficacy of compounds from Dittrichia viscosa (Asteraceae) as protectant of chickpea seeds against the cowpea seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The efficacy of four bi- and tri-cyclic sesquiterpenes, namely inuloxins A, B and C and α-costic acid, extracted from aerial parts of Dittrichia...     

Insecticidal activity of fatty acid constituents of fixed vegetable oils against Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) on cowpea

The insecticidal activity of lauric, oleic and linoleic acids against Callosobruchus maculatus on cowpea was investigated in laboratory bioassays. In pre-oviposition grain treatments, it was found that, at dosages between 1.96 and 11.59 kg-lauric acid had no effect on progeny development, while the oily oleic and linoleic acids were active in reducing progeny development. The active fatty acids had no effect on oviposition (in no-choice experiments) or on mortality of adults or larvae that successfully penetrated treated cowpea seeds, and their insecticidal activity, like that of fixed vegetable oils, depended mainly on ovicidal action. When applied to cowpeas in a pure state, oleic acid had an LC₅₀ value of 1.64mlkg^?1, which made it approximately 3 and 8 times more toxic against eggs of C. maculatus than groundnut oil and linoleic acid respectively. When the ovicidal activities of the three fatty acids were tested by dipping egg-infested seeds in acetone- based solutions, they were all found to be similarly toxic, lauric, oleic and linoleic acids having LC₅₀, values of 40, 38 and 26 ml litre^?1 respectively (with overlapping 95% C.L.). These values made them 2-4 times more toxic than acetone-based solutions of groundnut and traditional coconut oils. The possibility of employing fatty acids in large-scale and traditional small-scale food storage systems is discussed.     

Evaluation of powdered fruits of four peppers (Capsicum spp.) for the control of Callosobruchus maculatus (F) on stored cowpea seed

Abstract

The efficacy of two application rates of powdered fruits of four types of peppers (Capsicum spp.) was evaluated for the control of Callosobruchus maculatus (F). The various pepper powders at 2.5 g‐5.0 g per 250 g of seed were effective in reducing oviposition and damage to cowpea seeds. The pepper type Capsicum frutescens var. yarmunchi was the most effective in discouraging oviposition and minimizing damage to the seed, as indicated by the significantly lower number of emergence holes. The seed quality and viability were not affected by the powdered pepper fruit treatment. The result is indicative of the potential for the use of powdered fruits of some peppertypes in protecting stored cowpea seeds against C. maculatus.     

Pyramiding of insecticidal compounds for control of the cowpea bruchid (Callosobruchus maculatus F.)

The cowpea bruchid (Callosobruchus maculatus F.) (Chrysomelidae: Bruchini) is a major pest of stored cowpea grain. With limited available technologies for controlling the bruchid, transgenic cowpeas with bruchid resistance genes engineered into them could become the next management tools. An investigation was made of two different sets of potential transgenic insecticidal compounds using an artificial seed system: (i) CIP-PH-BT-J and recombinant egg white avidin, and (ii) avidin and wheat alpha-amylase inhibitor. CIP-PH-BT-J (0.1%; 1000 mg kg(-1)) and recombinant egg white avidin (0.006%; 60 mg kg(-1)) incorporated separately into artificial seeds caused 98.2 and 99% larval mortality rates respectively. Combining CIP-PH-BT-J and avidin in the same artificial seed provided additional mortality compared with each factor incorporated singly; no insects survived in seeds with the combined toxins. Similarly, when avidin and wheat alpha-amylase inhibitor (alphaAI) (1%; 10 g kg(-1)) were incorporated separately into artificial seeds, this caused 99.8 and 98% mortality respectively. However, in combination, avidin and alphaAI did not increase mortality, but they did cause a significant increase in developmental time of the cowpea bruchids. These results emphasize that the joint action of potential insecticidal compounds cannot be predicted from results obtained separately for each compound, and they suggest potential transgenes for further consideration.     

Role of chemical characteristics of the seed coat in the resistance of selected cowpea varieties to Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) in Nigeria

The role of seed coat chemical factors in the resistance of the cowpea varieties, Kanannado, IT89KD-391 and Borno brown, to the cowpea seed bruchid Callosobruchus maculatus (F.), was investigated under laboratory conditions (30-35C and 65-67% RH) in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Significantly higher numbers of eggs were laid on de-coated than on intact Kanannado seeds whereas significantly smaller numbers of eggs were laid on de-coated than on intact IT89KD-391 or Borno brown seeds. Susceptibility was higher in de-coated than in intact Kanannado seeds (susceptibility indices [SI] 3.4 and 0.0, respectively). Egg-hatch was significantly reduced in seeds with intact seed coats by 88.6%, while the proportion of eggs that failed to hatch in de-coated seeds was 31.9%. Treatment of Borno brown seeds especially with 32 and 64 mg of extracts from Kanannado and IT89KD-391 seed coats, reduced oviposition by 61.9% and 95.2%, respectively. Treatment with 32 mg of the seed coat extracts reduced egg-hatch by 49.2%. Identical dosages (32 and 64 mg) of these seed coat extracts also significantly reduced susceptibility ofBorno brown to C. maculatus (SI values 6.7 and 1.5, respectively). Comparable SI values for Borno brown treated with 16 mg of the seed coat extracts or extract-free acetone were 14.9 and 14.0, respectively.     

Mode of action of fixed oils against eggs of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.)

Studies on the mode of action of fixed vegetable oils on Callosobruchus maculatus eggs revealed two possible mechanisms of action which may be complementary: (1) that the oils exert lethal action slowly by drastically reducing respiratory activity and elimination of toxic metabolites as a result of the oil ‘barrier effect’, and (2) direct toxic effects of oil or oil constituents that possibly penetrate the eggs. The slow lethal action of oil was demonstrated by the continuous low level respiratory activity (measured by carbon dioxide emission) of dying eggs over a six-day monitoring period, and the fact that a significantly higher proportion of the dead eggs found on groundnut or traditional coconut oiltreated grains developed up to the late embryonic stage (first instar larvae) when compared with the control. Furthermore, in an experiment carried out by trapping C. maculatus eggs on oil-treated and untreated artificial membrane (Sellotape), it was found that oiling did not affect egg development up to the late embryonic stage but prevented hatching of significantly higher numbers of developed first instar larvae. Eggs that successfully hatch on oily grain surfaces may find it more difficult to penetrate, since egg attachments on such surfaces were found to be significantly less secure than on the control. The proposed modes of action show that the complete spread of an oil film over the surfaces of a commodity is vital for the successful utilisation of fixed oils as stored-product protectants.     

Influence of grain type on the insecticidal efficacy of two diatomaceous earth formulations against Rhyzopertha dominica (F) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae)

Laboratory bioassays were carried out in order to evaluate the effectiveness of two diatomaceous earth (DE) formulations, Insecto and SilicoSec, against adults of Rhyzopertha dominica (F) in eight different grain commodities. The adherence of the two DEs to each grain was also measured. The eight grains tested were wheat, whole barley, peeled barley, oats, rye, triticale, rice and maize. These commodities were treated with the DEs at three rates, 0.75, 1.0 and 1.5 g DE kg(-1) grain. The mortality of R dominica adults was measured after 24 h, 48 h, 7 days and 14 days of exposure in the treated grains at 26 degrees C and 55% RH. After the 14-day mortality count, all adults were removed and the treated grains retained under the same conditions for a further 60 days. The treated grains were subsequently examined for F1 progeny. Significant differences were recorded among the eight grain types as well as between the DE formulations tested. After 14 days of exposure, even at the lowest DE rate for both formulations, adult mortality was high (>90%) in wheat and triticale. In contrast, adult mortality was significantly lower in peeled barley. Increasing the rate improved the efficacy of the DEs significantly in only some of the grains tested. Reproductive capacity in all the treated grains was significantly suppressed when compared with untreated grains. Generally, more F1 individuals of R dominica were noted in the treated peeled barley than in the other commodities. Significant differences in the percentage of DE retention were noted among the eight grains. The highest retention level was noted in rice (>87%) and the lowest in maize (<6%). However, the degree of DE adherence to a given grain was not always indicative of the effectiveness of DE against R dominica.     

Comparative effectiveness of the powders of some underutilized botanicals for the control of Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Biological activities of eight plant powders including Pipta-deniastrum africanum (rootbark), Piptadeniastrum africa-num (leaf), Piper guineense,...     

Seed coat texture,host species and time of application affect the efficacy of essential oils applied for the control of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) in stored pulses

The effects of the texture of seed coats of three pulse cultivars, of which two, TVu12349 (wrinkled cowpea) and Borno brown (rough cowpea) belonged to Vigna unguiculata, and one, Bunmonu (smooth bambara groundnut) belonged to Vigna subterranea, as well as pre-and post-oviposition application on the efficacy of the essential oils of clove (Syzgium aromaticum), West African black pepper (WABP) (Piper guineense) and ginger (Zingiber officinale), against oviposition and development of Callosobruchus maculatus, were investigated under prevailing storage conditions (32-35°C and 40-50% RH) and 24 h darkness in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Seed coat texture influenced the bioactivity of the essential oils, especially clove oil, against oviposition and the proportion of C. maculatus adults that emerged significantly more than host species: the mean numbers of eggs laid on the smooth-seeded Bunmonu, the rough-seeded Borno brown and the wrinkled TVu12349 were 16.9, 16.7 and 24.2%, respectively; adult emergence was 31.1% in the wrinkled TVu12349, 45.3% in the rough-seeded Borno brownand 10.2% in the smooth-seeded Bunmonu. The smooth-seeded Bunmonu reduced oviposition in seeds treated with clove oil by 91.4% and 98.4% relative to the mean number of eggs laid in the rough-seeded and the wrinkled Tvu12349, respectively; comparable figures of oviposition reduction by Bunmonu in untreated seeds were 4.8 and 15.9% relative to the mean number of eggs laid in Borno brown and Tvu12349, respectively. Both pre-and post-oviposition application of the essential oils significantly suppressed oviposition and/or adult emergence. In the pre-oviposition application, treatment of bambaranut seeds with clove, WABP and ginger oils at the rate of 1 mg/5 g seed reduced the mean number of eggs laid by C. maculatus by 70.7, 98.7 and 86.2%, respectively, relative to the number of eggs laid in untreated seeds. Post-oviposition treatments were, however, more effective on average, than pre-oviposition treatments in reducing the proportion of C. maculatus adults that emerged. In the post-oviposition application, no adult C. maculatus emerged in bambaranut seeds treated with clove oil at the rate of 0.5 or 1 mg/5 g seed.     

Persistence and residual activity of an organophosphate, pirimiphos-methyl, and three IGRs, hexaflumuron, teflubenzuron and pyriproxyfen, against the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Three insect growth regulators (IGR), the chitin synthesis inhibitors (CSI) teflubenzuron and hexaflumuron and the juvenile hormone mimic (JHM) pyriproxyfen, as well as the organophosphate (OP) pirimiphos-methyl, were evaluated for their activity against the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (F), in cowpea seeds stored for up to 8 months post-treatment. The initial activity data showed that, based on LC50 level, teflubenzuron had strong ovicidal activity (LC50 = 0.056 mg kg(-1)) followed by pirimiphos-methyl (1.82 mg kg(-1)) and pyriproxyfen (91.9 mg kg(-1)). The residual activity data showed that none of the IGRs tested had strong activity when applied at 200 mg kg(-1) in reducing the oviposition rates of C maculatus at various storage intervals up to 8 months post-treatment. However, teflubenzuron reduced adult emergence (F1 progeny), achieving control ranging from 96.2% at 1 month to 94.3% at 8 months. Hexaflumuron showed a similar trend in its residual activity, ranging between 93.8% control at 1 month to 88.2% control at 8 months post-treatment. However, pyriproxyfen was more active than the CSIs tested and caused complete suppression (100% control) of adult emergence at all storage intervals. Unlike the IGRs tested, pirimiphos-methyl applied at 25 mg kg(-1) was more effective in reducing oviposition rates of C maculatus up to 8 months post-treatment. A strong reduction of adult emergence was also observed at various bimonthly intervals (98.6% control at 1 month to 91.6% control at 8 months post-treatment). The persistence of hexaflumuron and pirimiphos-methyl in cowpea seeds was also studied over a period of 8 months. The loss of hexaflumuron residue in treated cowpeas (200 mg kg(-1)) was very slow during the first month post-treatment (4.43%). At the end of 8 months, the residue level had declined significantly to 46.4% of the initial applied rate. The loss of pirimiphos-methyl residue in treated cowpeas (25 mg kg(-1)) was relatively high during the first month post-treatment (36.7%) and increased to 81.6% after 8 months.     

Effects of Hyptis spicigera Lam. (Labiatae) on the behaviour and development of Callosobruchus maculatus F. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), a pest of stored cowpeas

Abstract

The use of beni seed, Hyptis spicigera Lam. (Labiatae), to protect stored cowpeas from bruchid attacks is a widespread practice in West Africa. More knowledge about its actual effects on storage pests is needed to enhance its effectiveness. In this laboratory study, repellent and lethal effects of powder and essential oil from H. spicigera on Callosobruchus maculatus, the main pest of stored cowpeas, were studied. Repellency tests undertaken with a Y-tube olfactometer showed that powder was repulsive for C. maculatus adults. On the other hand, this product had no insecticidal activity. Essential oil had a dose-dependent insecticidal effect while sublethal doses repelled the adults. Both products reduced oviposition by 15 – 19 and 7 – 78% according to the doses of powder and essential oil, respectively, tested. Similarly, egg viability decreased with increasing doses of powder and essential oil used in a range of 40 – 75 and 24 – 86%, respectively. Only essential oil was lethal to C. maculatus larvae developing within cowpea seeds; however, oil activity was age-dependent, younger instars being more susceptible. These results are discussed with a view of controlling C. maculatus populations in stored cowpeas.     

Efficacy of Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg extracts on contact mortality,repellency, oviposition deterrency and fumigant toxicity of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera:Bruchidae)

Callosobruchus maculatus (F.), a major pest of grain legumes, causes considerable losses worldwide. C. maculatus management relies on synthetic insecticides with their adverse environmental and health concerns. The current study investigated the use of Artocarpus altilis (breadfruit) extracts on contact and fumigant toxicity, repellency and oviposition deterrency of C. maculatus as a management strategy. Fumigant mortality (LC₅₀) of the dry inflorescence extract of A. altilis was 126.65 µL L^?1 air at 53.4 h. Fruit extract gave 73.3% repellency at 1000 ppm after 24 h. Percent repellency was dose and time dependent. Green inflorescence extract of A. altilis reduced egg laying with 50% oviposition occurring after 37.78 h at 1000 ppm. We conclude that extracts of leaf, fruit, green and dried inflorescence of A. altilis displayed contact mortality, repellency, deterred oviposition and had fumigant activity toward C. maculatus.     

Influence of carrier solvent on the efficacy of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) seed oil applied for the control of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The influence of four carrier-solvents (acetone, ethanol, petroleum ether and hexane) on the efficacy of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) seed oil...     

The physical action of three diatomaceous earths against the cuticle of the flour mite Acarus siro L. (Acari: Acaridae)

Experiments examined the accepted modes of action of the desiccant dust, diatomaceous earth (DE), against the flour mite, Acarus siro (L.) (Astigmata). Adult mites were exposed to three DE products for periods of 3, 18 and 72 h under conditions designed to allow partial desiccation of the mites without causing mortality. After exposure, the DE dust particles were washed off the mite bodies, and both the DE and the mites were examined for presence of cuticular hydrocarbons by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis. GC-MS identified seven major cuticular lipids of chain length C(13)--C(26) that may have a role in the waterproofing of A. siro. After 18 h exposure, n-tridecane and several different long-chain fatty acid ethyl esters were detected on one of the DE products. After 72 h, n-tridecane was detected on all three DE products. Mite samples retained after removal of the DEs were examined by microscopy. Tentative evidence was observed by conventional low-power microscopy that might indicate uniform removal of the epicuticle. However, a detailed examination by scanning electron microscopy showed no signs of abrasion.     

Persistence and efficacy of two diatomaceous earth formulations and a mixture of diatomaceous earth with natural pyrethrum against Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) on wheat and maize

Laboratory tests were conducted to assess the insecticidal and residual effects of three diatomaceous earth (DE) formulations, Insecto, PyriSec and SilicoSec, against Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val on wheat and maize. Quantities of wheat and maize were treated with the above formulations at 500, 1000 and 1500 mg kg(-1) and stored at 25 degrees C and 55% relative humidity (RH). Samples were taken on the day of storage and every 30 days until completion of a 360 day period of storage. Adults of T. confusum were exposed to these samples at 25 degrees C and 55% RH and the mortality was measured after 24 and 48 h and 7 and 14 days of exposure. Adult mortality was higher on wheat than on maize. At the beginning of the storage period, mortalities after 14 day exposure on maize treated with the highest rate were 60, 63 and 81% for Insecto, PyriSec and SilicoSec respectively, while on wheat the mortality was 100% for all DEs. On the same commodities 360 days after treatment the respective mortality figures for wheat were 99, 98 and 100%, while in the case of maize they did not exceed 7%. Generally, mortality at exposures < or =48 h decreased with increasing storage time. Furthermore, although mortality on wheat increased with dose, the increase in DE dose from 1000 to 1500 mg kg(-1) resulted in only a small increase in mortality. Thus a DE treatment of 1000 mg kg(-1) was shown to provide long-term protection of wheat against T. confusum, although higher DE application rates and exposure intervals are needed for a satisfactory level of protection of maize against this pest.     

Rhyzopertha dominica (F., 1792) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae): a stored grain pest on olive trees in Sicily

In October 2014 samples were collected from olive trees growing in South‐Eastern Sicily (Italy) that were showing wilting symptoms. In the field, clear signs of flagging appeared on young twigs and lateral shoots, and many leaves had fallen to the ground. Initial laboratory examinations of attacked twigs revealed the presence of a large number of adults of Rhyzopertha dominica (F., 1792). Sampling was repeated during the following 2 years, and while an outbreak of the pest did not occur, continuous damage was observed. In 2016, exclusively using pheromone‐baited traps in olive trees, a large number of adults were captured. The main local climatic parameters were monitored from 2014 to 2016 and compared with the population levels. The incidence of damage and survival of R. dominica in an environment different from its usual one (stored grain) deserves attention, especially considering that climate change could greatly affect pest demographics and put olive trees in this area and further afield at risk of increased damage.