Evaluation toxicity of monoterpenes to subterranean termite, Reticulitermes chinensis Snyder

• Forty-two monoterpenes were evaluated for termiticidal activity toward Reticulitermes chinensis.
• The (+)-pulegone and carvacrol were the most toxic monoterpenes to R. chinensis.
• The termiticidal activity of oxygenated hydrocarbon was higher than the hydrocarbon.

Monoterpenes can be used as potentially alternative pest control agents as well as good lead compounds for the development of new insecticides because of their safe, effective, and fully biodegradable characteristics. Different monoterpenes differ significantly in their toxicity to particular insects. We evaluated forty-two monoterpenes, including eleven monoterpene hydrocarbons and thirty-one oxygenated monoterpenes, for termiticidal activities toward Reticulitermes chinensis. In fumigation bioassays, the (+)-pulegone and carvacrol (ketones and phenols) were the most toxic monoterpenes to R. chinensis with LC50 values of 0.003 and 0.007 μl/l, respectively. We found the termiticidal activities of oxygenated hydrocarbon compounds were higher than the hydrocarbon group. Our results suggest that (+)-pulegone and carvacrol are promising toxicants against R. chinensis and could be useful in the search for new natural termiticidal.