Insecticidal and repellent activity of selected essential oils against of the pollen beetle, Meligethes aeneus (Fabricius) adults

The essential oils from 9 aromatic plants were tested on repellency and mortality of Meligethes aeneus adults. All the tested essential oils caused high mortality of M. aeneus adults in the tarsal tests. The lethal doses after 6 h exposure were ranged between 197 and 1508 μg cm−2. Essential oils obtained from Carum carvi and Thymus vulgaris were most efficient where LD50 was estimated as 197 and 250 μg cm−2, respectively.Repellency declined in all the essential oils as a function of time. The longest persistence time was determined for essences obtained from C. carvi and T. vulgaris where significantly the highest repellent index of 65.6% and 63.8%, respectively, was determined. Repellent index lower than 15% was determined for the remaining essential oils.

► The essential oils from 9 aromatic plants caused high mortality and repellency against Meligethes aeneus adults.
► Essential oils obtained from Carum carvi and Thymus vulgaris were most efficient for mortality.
► The longest repellent persistence time was determined for essences obtained from C. carvi and T. vulgaris where RI was 65.6% and 63.8%.