Insecticidal efficacy of some apiaceae plant metabolites against glyphodes pyloalis walker (lepidoptera: pyralidae)

Abstract

Botanical based-insecticides are presently recognized to interfere behavioral and physiological performances of herbivorous insects. In the current study, the insecticidal properties of Pimpinella anisum, Foeniculum vulgare and Heracleum persicum essential oils (EOs), and their main component, trans-anethole, were studied on a destructive pest of mulberry leaves, Glyphodes pyloalis Walker. The effect of essential oils (EOs) on the larval feeding was evaluated by the leaf-dipping method and demonstrated the highest insecticidal and antifeedant activities of F. vulgare and H. persicum. Apart from negative effects on feeding indices, feeding treatment with the EOs significantly inhibited the activities of digestive enzymes and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). At nearly, all the tested compounds increased the activities of detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes. Thus, these EOs demonstrate potential as new control products to combat G. pyloalis, and they may function as an insecticide, antifeedant, or inhibitor of physiological performance.

Keywords:

• Glyphodes pyloalis
• bio-pesticide
• digestive physiology
• oxidative stress
• acetylcholinesterase

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Dr. Vahid Rahimi at the Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, 416535, for the technical support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).