Fumigant toxicity of some essential oils and eucalyptol on different life stages of Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Essential oils of aromatic plants have a high potential for the development of alternative insect pest management strategies. Especially for the control of stored product pests, alternative methods to replace synthetic insecticides are urgently needed. We evaluate the fumigant toxicity of Myrtus communis, Eucalyptus globulus, Syzygium aromaticum, Thymus saturejoides essential oils, and the main natural compound of two of them, eucalyptol, on different life stages of the confused flour beetle (Tribolium confusum) under laboratory conditions. Whereas eucalyptol and the essential oils of M. communis and E. globulus have rather strong toxic effects on all developmental stages, apart from the eggs of T. confusum, the essential oil of S. aromaticum caused the highest egg toxicity. Our results indicate that eucalyptol or essential oils containing large amounts of this compound might be efficient as potential alternative control agents for T. confusum, but tests under more natural conditions need to be performed.