Enhancing Airtight Storage with Germinating Cowpea Seeds: Impacts on Insect Mortality, Progeny and Grain Quality.

Millions of smallholder farmers use airtight (hermetic) storage to preserve stored commodities. However, relying on biological agents (i.e., insects) to deplete residual oxygen in airtight containers can occasionally extend the process, potentially resulting in grain damage or nutrient loss. Current oxygen scavengers used to remove this residual oxygen are unavailable and unsuitable on smallholder farms in developing countries. We evaluated the effectiveness of germinating seeds for oxygen depletion. Treatments comprised 10, 20, and 30 germinating cowpea seeds in 2 L jars filled with infested cowpea grains. Insect mortality and grain quality were assessed after 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h. Progeny development was monitored for 49 days post-treatment. The results showed that all germinating seeds depleted oxygen to 5% or below within 48 h. Complete adult mortality was achieved after 72 h for both 20 and 30 germinating seeds and 120 h for 10 germinating seeds. As germinating seeds increased, egg counts decreased. No adults emerged post-treatment after insects were exposed for 96 and 120 h to hypoxia from 30 and 20 germinating seeds, respectively. However, 120 h insect exposure to hypoxia from 10 germinating seeds had negligible progeny development. Moisture content increased slightly in grains exposed to 30 germinating seeds. Germinating seeds are as effective as controlled atmospheres in accelerating insect deaths, but further research is needed for field application and their effects on stored product quality.

Chemical Composition and Evaluation of Insecticidal Activity of Seseli bocconei Essential Oils against Stored Products Pests.

In this study, the chemical composition of the essential oils (EOs) obtained from different aerial parts (flowers, leaves, and stems) of Seseli bocconei Guss., a wild species endemic of Sicily, was investigated. Furthermore, the EOs' biocidal effects towards two pests of stored products, Sitophilus oryzae and Callosobruchus maculates, were evaluated. This activity was evaluated in Petri dish bioassays to establish the survival rate of adults treated with the EOs comparing them with solvent and a commonly used insecticide (pyrethrum). The data obtained from the toxicity bioassay evidenced that stems' EOs and leaves' EOs have a contact/fumigation effect towards the two insect species tested, while the EOs from the flowers did not exhibit a different mortality than the solvent. The EOs from the stem and leaves of S. bocconei, tested at 10 mg/petri dish, determined a LT50 of 53.38 and 42.97 h, respectively, on S. oryzae adults, and of 45.23 and 42.97 h, respectively, on C. maculatus adults. The promising bioactivity of S. bocconei leaves' EOs and stems' EOs toward S. oryzae and C. maculatus is encouraging in the perspective to test these oils and their main constituents for further experiments in the laboratory and field.

A vicilin-like protein extracted from Clitoria fairchildiana cotyledons was toxic to Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

Callosobruchus maculatus is the main pest cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). Given its relevance as an insect pest, studies have focused in finding toxic compounds which could prevent its predatory action towards the seeds. Clitoria fairchildiana is a native Amazon species, whose seeds are refractory to insect predation. This characteristic was the basis of our interest in evaluating the toxicity of its seed proteins to C. maculatus larvae. Seed proteins were fractioned, according to their solubility, to albumins (F1), globulins (F2), kaphyrins (F3), glutelins (F4), linked kaphyrins (F5) and cross-linked glutelins (F6). The fractionated proteins were quantified, analysed by tricine-SDS-PAGE and inserted into the diet of this insect pest in order to evaluate their insecticidal potential. The most toxic fraction to C. maculatus, the propanol soluble F3, was submitted to molecular exclusion chromatography and all of the peaks obtained, F3P1, F3P2, F3P3, caused a reduction of larval mass, especially F3P1, seen as a major ~12 kDa electrophoretic band. This protein was identified as a vicilin-like protein by mass spectrometry and BLAST analysis. The alignment of the Cfvic (C. fairchildiana vicilin) peptides with a V. unguiculata vicilin sequence, revealed that Cfvic has at least five peptides (ALLTLVNPDGR, AILTLVNPDGR, NFLAGGKDNV, ISDINSAMDR, NFLAGEK) which lined up with two chitin binding sites (ChBS). This finding was corroborated by chitin affinity chromatography and molecular docking of chitin-binding domains for N-Acetyl-D-glucosamine and by the reduction of Cfvic chitin affinity after chemical modification of its Lys residues. In conclusion, Cfvic is a 12 kDa vicilin-like protein, highly toxic to C. maculatus, acting as an insect toxin through its ability to bind to chitin structures present in the insect midgut.

Deleterious effects of Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi seed flour on cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.), larval development.

Schinus terebinthifolius, Raddi, has been extensively studied due to its anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties. S. terebinthifolius was also toxic to some insects, however little has been explored about the nature of its insecticide compounds or the toxicity of this plant to insect species. In this work, we investigate the toxicity of S. terebinthifolius seed flour against the insect C. maculatus. S. terebinthifolius seed flour interfered with the post hatch development of the C. maculatus larvae, decreasing larval survival, mass and length. Using DEAE-cellulose chromatography, five protein fractions were isolated, a non-retained fraction (NRF) and four retained fractions, eluted with 0.25, 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 M NaCl. Proteins with varying molecular masses were observed in all fractions. The majority protein bands were identified by mass spectrometry analysis and among the main identified proteins are 11S globulins (such glycinin), lipoxygenase, chitinases, 7S globulins (vicilins, canavalin and ß conglycinin), annexin, catalase and sucrose binding protein. All DEAE-protein fractions were toxic to the insect, interfering with the post hatch larval development and survival. Decreases greater than 90% were observed in the larval mass and length at 20 days after oviposition (DAO) for larvae raised on diet containing 0.5% of some fractions. Alterations in the level of proteins, glucose and in the activity of the enzymes lipases and cysteine proteases were also detected in these larvae. Our results show that seeds of S. terebinthifolius have an arsenal of toxic proteins with potential for the control of the insect C. maculatus.

Insights into Temperature and Hypoxia Tolerance in Cowpea Weevil via HIF-1.

Cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus) is a major pest that leads to severe damage of the stored leguminous grains. Several management approaches, including physical barriers, biological or chemical methods, are used for controlling bruchid in cowpea. These methods usually target the metabolically active state of weevil. However, it becomes less effective at early stages as egg, larva, or pupa under low temperature and oxygen conditions. Since hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is known to coordinate multiple gene responses to low oxygen or low temperature signals, we examined the HIF-1α gene expression under low temperature and hypoxic treatments. At -20 °C, it took 4 h to reduce the survival rate for eggs, larvae, and pupae down to 10%, while at 4 °C and 15 °C, the survival rate remained higher than 50% even after 128 h as HIF-1α gene expression peaked at 15 °C. Moreover, HIF-1 protein offers a valuable target for early stage pest control complementary to traditional methods. In particular, HIF-1 inhibitor camptothecin (CPT), one of the five HIF-1 inhibitors examined, achieved a very significant reduction of 96.2% and 95.5% relative to the control in weevil survival rate into adult at 4 °C and 30 °C, respectively. Our study can be used as one model system for drug development in virus infections and human cancer.

Efficacy of bioactive compounds and their association with different cowpea cultivars against their major stored pest.

BACKGROUND: Stored grain insects are controlled with fumigant insecticides which can select resistant insect populations and cause environmental and applicator contamination. Thus, resistant cultivars and chemical constituents of essential oils are an alternative to the almost exclusive use of these insecticides. The effects of the combination of cowpea cultivars Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. with chemical constituents of essential oils against Callosobruchus maculatus were determined. Four cowpea cultivars: BRS Tracuateua, BR 17 Gurgueia, Epace 10 and Sempre Verde (insect rearing) untreated were used in the experiments and combined with chemical constituents of essential oil: eugenol, geraniol and trans-anethole. The biological parameters observed were: total egg number and eggs per grain, egg viability (%), insects emerged and insects per grain, immature stage viability (%), instantaneous rate of growth (ri), insect dry weight (mg), grain weight loss (%) and egg-adult period. RESULTS: When comparing all biological parameters, the cultivars BRS Tracuateua and BR 17 Gurgueia were harmful to C. maculatus. In the toxicity tests, the results showed that LC30 and LC50 of the chemical constituents ranged from 54.77 to 103.48 ppm and 60.99 to 125.18 ppm, respectively. In most of the biological parameters, LC50 had adverse effects significantly higher than LC30 and BR 17 Gurgueia treated were harmful to C. maculatus. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the findings showed that BR 17 Gurgueia combined with eugenol and geraniol more significantly affected the biological parameters of C. maculatus than when associated with trans-anethole, reducing egg number, insects emerged and egg viability. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Food quality effects on instar-specific life histories of a holometabolous insect.

It is a long-standing challenge to understand how changes in food resources impact consumer life history traits and, in turn, impact how organisms interact with their environment. To characterize food quality effects on life history, most studies follow organisms throughout their life cycle and quantify major life events, such as age at maturity or fecundity. From these studies, we know that food quality generally impacts body size, juvenile development, and life span. Importantly, throughout juvenile development, many organisms develop through several stages of growth that can have different interactions with their environment. For example, some parasitoids typically attack larger instars, whereas larval insect predators typically attack smaller instars. Interestingly, most studies lump all juvenile stages together, which ignores these ecological changes over juvenile development.We combine a cross-sectional experimental approach with a stage-structured population model to estimate instar-specific vital rates in the bean weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus across a food quality gradient. We characterize food quality effects on the bean weevil's life history traits throughout its juvenile ontogeny to test how food quality impacts instar-specific vital rates.Vital rates differed across food quality treatments within each instar; however, their effect differed with instar. Weevils consuming low-quality food spent 38%, 37%, and 18% more time, and were 34%, 53%, and 63% smaller than weevils consuming high-quality food in the second, third, and fourth instars, respectively. Overall, our results show that consuming poor food quality means slower growth, but that food quality effects on vital rates, growth and development are not equal across instars. Differences in life history traits over juvenile ontogeny in response to food quality may impact how organisms interact with their environment, including how susceptible they are to predation, parasitism, and their competitive ability.

Novel Agmatine Derivatives in Maerua edulis With Bioactivity Against Callosobruchus maculatus, a Cosmopolitan Storage Insect Pest.

Food security in developing countries is threatened by crop pests and ectoparasites in livestock. Strategies for their management still rely on synthetic pesticides which are not always effective and the active ingredients persist in the environment with negative consequences for beneficial arthropods, farmers and consumers, hence necessitating research on sustainable alternatives. Botanical insecticides are increasingly relevant, typically having lower impacts on users, consumers and the environment. One example is the southern African shrub the Blue bush-berry, Maerua edulis. Recent work reported effective pest control using this plant species against cattle ticks, storage beetles and vegetable pests. However, little is known about the chemistry underlying activity and this is essential to optimize its use. Here, we identified two novel plant chemical structures, the E and Z isomers of cinnamoyl-4-aminobutylguanidine along with the E and Z isomers of 4-hydroxycinnamoyl-4-aminobutylguanidine in the leaves of M. edulis. We isolated these compounds from the leaves and elucidated their chemical structures using various spectroscopic techniques including High Resolution Mass Spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. We also identified a further 11 closely related structures of which 6 are tentatively reported here for the first time. Stachydrine and 3-hydroxystachydrine were also identified in the leaf extract, and occurred at very high concentrations; up to 2% w/w of dry leaves. We tested these two compounds, along with the 4 main cinnamoylamides and the crude M. edulis leaf extract against the cowpea bruchid Callosobruchus maculatus at concentrations equivalent to those present in extracts used by smallholder farmers. Mortality of insects exposed to crude plant extracts after 72 h was significantly higher than the untreated control although still lower than for insects exposed to rotenone, the positive control. The two new compounds and stachydrine showed similar activity to the crude extracts suggesting that these compounds explained the activity of the extract. After 6 days, the mortality of insects exposed to crude extracts and isolated compounds was similar to that recorded with the positive control. The stachydrine fraction and the E and Z isomers of cinnamoyl-4-aminobutylguanidine also inhibited oviposition activity in fecund female beetles. Our data show that methanol extracts of M. edulis were toxic to C. maculatus and inhibited oviposition even at 0.1% w/v so these foliar chemicals may explain the activity of the plant material. We also synthesized the amides which facilitated structural elucidation, produced adequate quantities for testing and demonstrated the potential for commercial synthesis.

Oxygen Consumption and Acoustic Activity of Adult Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) during Hermetic Storage.

Acoustic monitoring was applied to consider hermetic exposure durations and oxygen levels required to stop adult Callosobruchus maculatus activity and economic damage on cowpea. A 15-d study was conducted with six treatments of 25, 50, and 100 C. maculatus adults in 500 and 1000 mL jars using acoustic probes inserted through stoppers sealing the jars. Acoustic activity as a result of locomotion, mating, and egg-laying was measured by identifying sound impulses with frequency spectra representative of known insect sounds, and counting trains (bursts) of impulses separated by intervals of <200 ms, that typically are produced only by insects. By the end of the first week of storage in all treatments, oxygen levels declined to levels below 4%, which has been demonstrated to cause mortality in previous studies. Concomitantly, insect sound burst rates dropped below an acoustic detection threshold of 0.02 bursts s−1, indicating that the insects had ceased feeding. Statistically significant relationships were obtained between two different measures of the acoustic activity and the residual oxygen level. Based on the experimental results, a simple equation can be used to estimate the time needed for oxygen to decline to levels that limit insect feeding damage and thus grain losses in hermetic storage containers of different insect population levels and various volumes.

Protection effect of the anthraquinones, cassiatorin and aurantio-obtusin from seeds of Senna tora against cowpea weevil attack

Objective: To explore the potential insecticidal, ovipositor deterrent and antifeedant effects of ethyl acetate extract of the seeds of Senna tora (Syn. Cassia tora) against cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus). Methods: The activities were evaluated using standard protocols. In these bioassays, the cowpea seeds were used directly as an insect feed. The activity of the extract and isolated compounds were tested at concentrations of 100, 200 and 300 μg/mL and compared to neem oil and cinnamaldehyde (as standard positive controls). Phytochemical analysis of the ethyl acetate extract was done through a number of chromatographic techniques and the structures of the isolated compounds were established through comprehensive spectroscopic analysis including 2D-NMR and ESI-MS studies. Results: Fractionation of the active ethyl acetate extract resulted in the isolation of one known anthraquinone, aurantio-obtusin (1) and a novel compound that was named as cassiatorin (2). Compounds 1 and 2 showed comparable insect antifeedant properties with the positive controls while their insecticidal and ovipositor deterrent effects were far superior to the standard controls. Conclusions: It is thus concluded that Senna tora extracts and the isolated compounds (1 and 2) may be employed in the postharvest management of stored cowpea seeds and as other crop protectants.

Protection effect of the anthraquinones, cassiatorin and aurantio-obtusin from seeds of Senna tora against cowpea weevil attack

Objective:To explore the potential insecticidal,ovipositor deterrent and antifeedant effects of ethyl acetate extract of the seeds of Senna tora (Syn.Cassia tora) against cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculaws).Methods:The activities were evaluated using standard protocols.In these bioassays,the cowpea seeds were used directly as an insect feed.The activity of the extract and isolated compounds were tested at concentrations of 100,200 and 300 μg/mL and compared to neem oil and cinnamaldehyde (as standard positive controls).Phytochemical analysis of the ethyl acetate extract was done through a number of chromatographic techniques and the structures of the isolated compounds were established through comprehensive spectroscopic analysis including 2D-NMR and ESI-MS studies.Results:Fractionation of the active ethyl acetate extract resulted in the isolation of one known anthraquinone,aurantio-obtusin (1) and a novel compound that was named as cassiatorin (2).Compounds 1 and 2 showed comparable insect antifeedant properties with the positive controls while their insecticidal and ovipositor deterrent effects were far superior to the standard controls.Contusions:It is thus concluded that Senna tora extracts and the isolated compounds (1 and 2) may be employed in the postharvest management of stored cowpea seeds and as other crop protectants.

Biochemical studies of amylase, lipase and protease in Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) populations fed with Vigna unguiculata grain cultivated with diazotrophic bacteria strains.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the enzymatic activity of homogenates of insects fed on grain of cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.), cultivars grown with different nitrogen sources. For the experiment we used aliquots of the homogenate of 100 unsexed adult insects, emerged from 10 g of grain obtained from four cowpea cultivars: 'BRS Acauã', 'BRS Carijó', 'BRS Pujante', and 'BRS Tapaihum' grown under different regimes of nitrogen sources: mineral fertilizer, inoculation with strains of diazotrophs (BR 3267, BR 3262, BR 3299; INPA 03-11B, 03-84 UFLA, as well as the control (with soil nitrogen). The parameters evaluated were enzymatic activities of insect protease, amylase and lipase and the starch content of the grains. There were differences in the enzymatic activity of amylase, lipase and protease of insect homogenate according to the food source. A lower activity of the enzyme amylase from C. maculatus homogenate was observed when insects were fed grain of the cultivar BRS Carijó. A lower activity of lipase enzyme from C. maculatus homogenate was observed when the insects fed on grain from the interaction of the cultivar Tapaihum inoculated with BR 3262 diazotrophs. The lowest proteolytic activity was observed in homogenate of insects fed on interaction of 'BRS Carijó' inoculated with BR 3262 diazotrophs. Starch content correlated positively with the amylase activity of C. maculatus homogenate. The cultivar BRS Carijó had a different behavior from the other cultivars, according to the cluster analysis.

Influência do período de armazenamento do caupi [Vigna unguiculata (L. ) Walp. ], tratado com óleos essenciais e fixos, no controle de Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius, 1775) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae) / Influence of the storage period of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L. ) Walp.] treated with essential and fixed oils, for the control of Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius, 1775) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae)

Compostos secundários obtidos de plantas podem ser utilizados no controle de Callosobruchus maculatus, como uma tática alternativa potencial aos inseticidas sintéticos. Foram testados óleos essenciais (Cymbopogon martini Roxb., Piper aduncum L., Piper hispidinervum C.DC., Melaleuca sp., Lippia gracillis Shau) e fixos (Helianthus annus L., Sesamum indicum L., Gossypium hirsutum L., Glycine max L. e Caryocar brasiliense Camb.), na concentração de 50µl/20g, de acordo com estudos anteriores. Grãos de caupi, cv. Sempre Verde, foram impregnados com os óleos, em recipientes de vidro e submetidos à agitação manual por dois minutos. Cada parcela de 20g foi infestada com oito fêmeas de C. maculatus com 0 a 48h de idade, durante quatro dias. Os óleos foram avaliados logo após a impregnação e aos 30, 60, 90 e 120 dias de armazenamento. Na primeira avaliação, todos os óleos essenciais provocaram 100 por cento de mortalidade e para os óleos fixos, a mortalidade variou entre 35 por cento (G. hirsutum) e 67,5 por cento (G. max). Com o prolongamento do período de armazenamento, houve um aumento do número de ovos viáveis e de insetos emergidos, exceto para P. aduncum. Em relação aos óleos fixos, S. indicum, G. max, G. hirsutum e C. brasiliense foram os mais eficientes até os 30 dias de armazenamento. Os resultados indicam que os óleos testados na concentração de 50µl/20g apresentam baixo efeito residual, com exceção de P. aduncum, que foi efetivo durante todo o período de armazenamento.

The secondary compounds extracted from plants are considered potential alternative to synthetic insecticides in the control of agricultural pests. Essential oils (Cymbopogon martini Roxb., Piper aduncum L., P. hispidinervum C.DC., Melaleuca sp. and Lippia gracillis Shau) and fixed oils (Helianthus annus L., Sesamum indicum L., Gossypium hirsutum L., Glycine max L. and Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) at the concentration of 50µl/20g were tested according to previous studies. Samples of cowpea cv. Sempre Verde were impregnated with these oils in glass recipients and submitted to manual agitation for two minutes. Each plot of 20g was infested with eight females of C. maculatus up to 48 hours old, during four days. The oil efficiency was evaluated right after the impregnation and after 30, 60, 90 and 120 days of storage. In the first evaluation, all essential oils caused 100 percent of mortality and the fixed oils caused low mortality, varying from 35 percent (G. hirsutum) to 67,5 percent (G. max). With longer storage period, there was an increase in the number of viable eggs and emerged insects, except for P. aduncum. Among the fixed oils, S. indicum, G. max, G. hirsutum and C. brasiliense were the most efficient up to 30 days of storage. The results showed the low residual effect of the tested oils for the control of C. maculatus, excep P. aduncum, which was efficient throughout the 120 days of storage.

Atividade inseticida de óleos essenciais e fixos sobre Callosobruchus maculatus (FABR., 1775) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) em grãos de caupi [Vigna unguiculata (L.) WALP.] / Insecticide activity of essential and fixed oils in Callosobruchus maculatus (FABR., 1775) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) in cowpea grains [Vigna unguiculata (L.) WALP.]

O caruncho, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabr.), é considerado a praga mais importante do caupi, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp., armazenado em regiões tropicais e subtropicais. Visando minimizar os efeitos indesejáveis dos inseticidas químicos sintéticos, o controle dessa praga com óleos de origem vegetal vem se constituindo numa alternativa promissora, de baixo custo e segura para os aplicadores e consumidores. Foram testados os óleos essenciais [(Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) J.F. Watson], Piper aduncum L., Piper hispidinervum C.DC., Melaleuca sp., Lippia gracillis Shauer) e fixos (Helianthus annuus L, Sesamum indicum L, Gossypium hirsutum L., Glycine max (L.) Merr. e Caryocar brasiliense Camb.), em grãos de caupi, cv. Sempre Verde. Os óleos foram utilizados nas concentrações 10, 20, 30, 40 e 50mL/20g, correspondendo a 0,5, 1,0, 1,5, 2,0 e 2,5 L/t e impregnados aos grãos no interior de recipientes de plástico, com auxílio de pipetador automático e agitados manualmente durante dois minutos. Parcelas de 20g de caupi foram infestadas com oito fêmeas de C. maculatus, com 0 a 48 h de idade. Cada óleo foi testado, separadamente, em delineamento inteiramente casualisado com seis repetições. Os óleos essenciais de C. martini, P. aduncum e L. gracillis causaram 100 por cento de mortalidade em todas as concentrações, P. hispidinervum a partir de 1,5 L/t e Melaleuca sp. nas concentrações de 2,0 e 2,5 L/t. A redução do número de ovos viáveis e de insetos emergidos foi de 100 por cento para todos os óleos essenciais, exceto Melaleuca sp. Por outro lado, os óleos fixos, apesar de apresentarem baixa mortalidade em todas as concentrações testadas, reduziram em praticamente 100 por cento o número de ovos viáveis e de insetos emergidos.

The weevil Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabr.) is considered the most important pest of cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp., stored in tropical and subtropical regions. Focusing to minimize the undesired effects of synthetic chemical insecticides, vegetal origin oils are a promissory alternative to control it because of its low cost and safety to the applicator and consumers. Essential oils [(Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) J.F. Watson], Piper aduncum L., Piper hispidinervum C.DC., Melaleuca sp. and Lippia gracillis Shauer) and fixed oils (Helianthus annuus L., Sesamum indicum L., Gossypium hirsutum L., Glycine max (L.) Merr. and Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) were tested in cowpea grains (cv. "Sempre Verde"). These oils were used in concentrations of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50mL/20g, corresponding to 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 L/t and impregnated to the grains into the plastic recipients using an automatic pipette and handly agitated for two minutes. Plots of 20g from cowpea were infested with eight females of C. maculatus from 0 to 48 hours old. Each oil was tested separately in a randomly arrangement with six replicates. The essential oils of C. martini, P. aduncum and L. gracillis provoked 100 percent of mortality in all concentrations, P. hispedinervum from 1.5 L/t and Melaleuca sp. in the concentrations of 2.0 and 2.5 L/t. The reduction of the viable eggs and emerged insects was about 100 percent, except for Melaleuca sp. On the other hand, the fixed oils, in spite of its low mortality in all tested concentrations, reduced to almost 100 percent the number of the viable eggs and emerged insects.