Efficiency of essential oils of Cymbopogon L. species against Red flour beetle larvae

The continuous use of synthetic pesticides to protect food products from various storage pests endangers the health of food consumers. Therefore, in post-harvest management, the use of essential oils is more and more considered as an alternative for controlling many stored grain pests. Essential oils are secondary plant metabolites with a repellent effect on a large number of pests, including storage pests. This thesis aimed to determine the efficiency of essential oils of lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosos / Nees ex. Steud. / W. Watson), ceylon citronella (Cymbopogon nardus / L. / Rendle) and palmarose (Cymbopogon martinii / Roxb. Wats) in the control of the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum Herbst) larvae. In the laboratory research, essential oils of the mentioned plant species of different concentrations were used. All treatments were done in four replicates, and each treatment was applied to 20 red flour beetle larvae. The behavior of the larvae was monitored in periods of 24, 48, and 72 hours. Larval mortality was calculated based on the number of dead and live larvae in repeats, and treatment efficiency was calculated using the Schneider-Orelli (1947) formula based on mortality. During this study, all applied treatments showed a potential insecticidal effect on red flour beetle. Of all the treatments performed, the highest efficiency of 22.5% was found when applying a 2% solution of citronella essential oil, 72 hours after the treatment of red flour beetle larvae.The continuous use of synthetic pesticides to protect food products from various storage pests endangers the health of food consumers. Therefore, in post-harvest management, the use of essential oils is more and more considered as an alternative for controlling many stored grain pests. Essential oils are secondary plant metabolites with a repellent effect on a large number of pests, including storage pests. This thesis aimed to determine the efficiency of essential oils of lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosos / Nees ex. Steud. / W. Watson), ceylon citronella (Cymbopogon nardus / L. / Rendle) and palmarose (Cymbopogon martinii / Roxb. Wats) in the control of the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum Herbst) larvae. In the laboratory research, essential oils of the mentioned plant species of different concentrations were used. All treatments were done in four replicates, and each treatment was applied to 20 red flour beetle larvae. The behavior of the larvae was monitored in periods of 24, 48, and 72 hours. Larval mortality was calculated based on the number of dead and live larvae in repeats, and treatment efficiency was calculated using the Schneider-Orelli (1947) formula based on mortality. During this study, all applied treatments showed a potential insecticidal effect on red flour beetle. Of all the treatments performed, the highest efficiency of 22.5% was found when applying a 2% solution of citronella essential oil, 72 hours after the treatment of red flour beetle larvae