Composition and insecticidal activity of essential oil from Pistacia lentiscus L. against Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller and Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

This study reports investigations on the chemical constituents and fumigant toxicity of Pistacia lentiscus L. (Anacardiaceae) essential oil against two major stored-date insects, carob moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller and Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella Zeller. Results showed that P. lentiscus essential oil contained terpinene-4-ol (23.32%), α-terpineol (7.12%) and β-caryophyllene (22.62%) as major compounds. Fumigant toxicity tests showed that P. lentiscus oil was more toxic to E. kuehniella (LC50 = 1.84 μl/l, LC95 = 5.14 μl/l) than E. ceratoniae (LC50 = 3.29 μl/l, LC95 = 14.24 μl/l). The fecundity and hatching rate of both insects decreased with increases in concentration or exposure time to the oil. At 136 μl/l air, fecundities and hatching rates were respectively 35 eggs/female and 42.86% for E. ceratoniae and 78 eggs/female and 29.49% for E. kuehniella.

Research highlights
► Composition of essential oil from Pistacia lentiscus L. fully elucidated.
► Toxic effects of the essential oil from Pistacia lentiscus to two moth pests of dates, Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller and Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, are demonstrated.