Insecticidal Properties of Essential Oils and Some of Their Constituents on the Turkestan Cockroach (Blattodea: Blattidae).
The Turkestan cockroach, Blatta lateralis (Walker), has become the most important peridomestic species in urban areas of the Southwestern United States. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of botanical compounds to control this urban pest. We tested the acute toxicity and repellency of six botanical constituents and three essential oils on Turkestan cockroach nymphs. Chemical composition of the essential oils was also determined. Topical and fumigant assays with nymphs showed that thymol was the most toxic essential oil constituent, with a LD50 of 0.34 mg/nymph and a LC50 of 27.6 mg/liter air, respectively. Contact toxicity was also observed in assays with trans-Cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, geraniol, methyl eugenol, and p-Cymene. Methyl eugenol and geraniol had limited fumigant toxicity. The essential oils from red thyme, clove bud, and Java citronella exhibited toxicity against nymphs. Cockroaches avoided fresh dry residues of thymol and essential oils. Chemical analysis of the essential oils confirmed high contents of effective essential oil constituents. Our results demonstrated that essential oils and some of their constituents have potential as eco-friendly insecticides for the management of Turkestan cockroaches.
Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003 (sgaire@purdue.edu; cbundy@nmsu.edu; aromero2@nmsu.edu).
Sudip
S
Gaire
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003 (moconnel@nmsu.edu; frholgui@nmsu.edu).
Mary
M
O'Connell
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003 (moconnel@nmsu.edu; frholgui@nmsu.edu).
Francisco O
FO
Holguin
Department of Public Health Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003 (aamatya@nmsu.edu).
Anup
A
Amatya
Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003 (sgaire@purdue.edu; cbundy@nmsu.edu; aromero2@nmsu.edu).
Scott
S
Bundy
Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003 (sgaire@purdue.edu; cbundy@nmsu.edu; aromero2@nmsu.edu).
Alvaro
A
Romero
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D045783:Clove Oil / Q000737:chemistry; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000187:drug effects*; D005651:Fumigation / Q000379:methods; D007300:Insect Control / Q000379:methods; D007306:Insecticides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D009758:Nymph; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D046930:Thymus Plant / Q000737:chemistry
D045783:Clove Oil; D007306:Insecticides; D009822:Oils, Volatile
Peridomestic cockroach; avoidance behavior; eco-friendly management; essential oil; toxicity