Oviposition deterrency and ovicidal activity of eighteen medicinal plant essential oils on Plodia interpunctella Hübner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Oviposition deterrency and ovicidal activity of 18 medicinal plant essential oils were investigated on the Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella Hübner. To determine oviposition deterrency of the oils, one pair of the moth was exposed to different concentrations of the oils for four days and the number of deposited eggs was counted. Also, one-day-old eggs were exposure to three concentrations of the oil at 3, 12 and 24 µl essential oil/l air. Percentage of egg hatching was recorded after 96 hours. The results showed that all essential oils had properties of oviposition deterrency. Fourteen plant essential oils tested such as Cinnamomum zelanicum Bl. caused more than 80% deterrency, and they were not significantly different. However, the lowest deterrency was recorded for essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis L., Anethum graveolens L., Artemisia dracunculus L. and Achillea millefolium L. with about 28.33, 32.50, 36.18 and 55.00%, respectively. Essential oils of Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. and C. zelanicum had the highest ovicidal activity on the Indian meal moth. Also, with increase of essential oil concentration ovicidal activity was increased. These findings indicated the high capability of Z. clinopodioides and C. zelanicum oviposition deterrency as well as ovicidal activity. Therefore, they could be suitable components for management of the Indian meal moth in storages.