Repellency of two essential oils to Monomorium pharaonis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Authors

  • Tufail Ahmed Wagan Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
  • Hamada Chakira Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
  • Yueping He Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
  • Jing Zhao Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
  • Man Long Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
  • Hongxia Hua Department of Entomology, Plant Science and Technology Collage, Huazhong Agriculture University, Wuhan, China

Keywords:

pharaoh ant, Curcuma longa, Litsea cubeba, repellent effect

Abstract

The pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis [L.]; Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is one of the most important pests in populated areas around the world where food and water are abundant. In this study, the repellency of the essential oils from Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae) (turmeric) and Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers. (Lauraceae) (litsea) to the pharaoh ant was evaluated. For the tests, the area choice method was used, and 0.1 mL of essential oil at 1 of 3 concentrations (10,000 ppm, 1,000 ppm, and 100 ppm) was applied on a half disc of filter paper to obtain a final concentration of 31.4 μg/cm2, 3.1 μg/cm2, and 0.3 μg/cm2. The same volume of mixture but without essential oil (distilled water + dimethyl sulfoxide + Tween-20®) was used as a control. the repellency of the oils was tested with and without availability of food to the ants, with the food consisting of small maize kernels. Both oils repelled ants with and without the availability of food at a concentration of 10,000 ppm. Turmeric oil showed a higher repellency than litsea oil in both the absence and presence of food. Furthermore, with food present, the repellency of turmeric oil increased whereas that of litsea oil decreased. The minimum percentages of repellency recorded for turmeric and litsea oils were >80% and >70%, respectively. This study demonstrated that the oils from these plants have a strong repellent effect on pharaoh ants in laboratory tests. Further studies are needed to determine the concentrations of these oils that can be used effectively for ant control in buildings and in open fields.

 

Resumen

La hormiga faraón (Monomorium pharaonis (L.); Hymenoptera: Formicidae) es una de las plagas más importantes en las zonas pobladas de todo el mundo donde la comida y el agua son abundantes. En este estudio, se evaluó la repelencia de los aceites esenciales de Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae) (cúrcuma) y Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers. (Lauraceae) a la hormiga faraón. Para las pruebas, se utilizó el método de elección de zona, y se aplicó 0,1 ml de aceite esencial a 1 de 3 concentraciones (10.000 ppm, 1.000 ppm y 100 ppm) sobre la mitad de un disco de papel de filtro para obtener una concentración final de 31,4 mg/cm2, 3,1 g/ cm2 y 0,3 g/ cm2. Se utilizó el mismo volumen de mezcla pero sin aceite esencial (agua destilada + sulfóxido de dimetilo + Tween-20®) como control. Se probó la repelencia de los aceites con y sin disponibilidad de alimentos para las hormigas, con la comida que consiste de granos pequeños de maíz. Ambos aceites repelaron las hormigas con y sin la disponibilidad de alimentos a una concentración de 10.000 ppm. El aceite de cúrcuma mostró una repelencia al aceite más alto que el Litsea tanto en la ausencia y presencia de alimentos. Por otra parte, con el alimento presente, la repelencia del aceite de cúrcuma aumenta mientras que la del aceite de Litsea disminuyó. Los porcentajes mínimos de repelencia registrados para los aceites de cúrcuma y Litsea fueron >80% y >70%, respectivamente. Este estudio demostró que los aceites de estas plantas tienen un fuerte efecto repelente de hormigas faraón en pruebas de laboratorio. Se necesitan más estudios para determinar las concentraciones de estos aceites que se pueden utilizar con eficacia para el control de hormigas en los edificios y en campos abiertos.

 

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Author Biographies

Tufail Ahmed Wagan, Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China

PhD Research Scholar, Entomology Department

Hongxia Hua, Department of Entomology, Plant Science and Technology Collage, Huazhong Agriculture University, Wuhan, China

Professor Entomology Department

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Published

2016-12-31

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Section

Research Papers