Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Essential Oils against the Bio-Deteriorating Insect Pests of Stored Food Commodities

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Plant Essential Oils

  • 161 Accesses

Abstract

Plant-based essential oils (EOs) are emerging as promising alternatives to chemical insecticides worldwide against stored food insect pests. EOs are plant secondary metabolites containing a mixture of various aromatic and aliphatic compounds that play crucial role in plant defense and signaling processes. Coleoptera followed by Lepidoptera are the most destructing insect orders causing huge loss to stored food items worldwide. A plethora of research and review articles have been published reporting the efficacy of different EOs against them in various methods like contact toxicity, fumigation toxicity, repellent activity, oviposition deterrent activity, ovicidal activity, larvicidal activity, pupaecidal activity and antifeedant activity. However, most of the studies focused only on one or two insect pests or one or two methods. The present chapter aims to furnish short information on various important stored product insect pests as well as efficacy of different EOs against them in various ways as analyzed in different research studies. Further, future research studies concerning the use of EOs as insecticides should focus on detailed investigations in the real food system and their safety profile, an area that needs more research input.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abd El-Aziz MF (2011) Bioactivities and biochemical effects of marjoram essential oil used against potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Life Sci J 8(1):288–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Abd El-Salam AME, Abd Elwahed Salem S, Abdel-Rahman RS (2019) Fumigant and toxic activity of some aromatic oils for protecting dry dates from Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Silvanidae) in stores. Bull Nat Res Cent 43(1):1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abdelgaleil SA, Mohamed MI, Badawy ME, El-arami SA (2009) Fumigant and contact toxicities of monoterpenes to Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and their inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase activity. J Chem Ecol 35:518–525

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Abdelgaleil SAM, Mohamed MIE, Shawir MS, Abou-Taleb HK (2016) Chemical composition, insecticidal and biochemical effects of essential oils of different plant species from northern Egypt on the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae L. J Pest Sci 89(1):219–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adjalian E, Sessou P, Odjo T, Figueredo G, Kossou D, Avlessi F, Menut C, Sohounhloué D (2015) Chemical composition and insecticidal and repellent effect of essential oils of two Premna species against Sitotroga cerealella. J Insects 2015:1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adjou ES, Chougourou D, Soumanou MM (2019) Insecticidal and repellent effects of essential oils from leaves of Hyptis suaveolens and Ocimum canum against Tenebroides mauritanicus (L.) isolated from peanut in post-harvest. J Consum Prot Food Saf 14(1):25–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Taie MM, Sabr SH (2018) Evaluation of the ovicidal and larvicidal activity of essential oils of three plant species on fig moth, Ephestia cautella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). J Entomol Zool Stud 6(1):1338–1342

    Google Scholar 

  • Ayvaz AB, Karaborklu SA, Sagdic O (2009) Fumigant toxicity of five essential oils against the eggs of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller and Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Asian J Chem 21(1):596–604

    Google Scholar 

  • Benzi VS, Murray AP, Ferrero AA (2009) Insecticidal and insect-repellent activities of essential oils from Verbenaceae and Anacardiaceae against Rhizopertha Dominica. Nat Prod Commun 4(9):1286–1290

    Google Scholar 

  • Bett PK, Deng AL, Ogendo JO, Kariuki ST, Kamatenesi-Mugisha M, Mihale JM, Torto B (2017) Residual contact toxicity and repellence of Cupressus lusitanica miller and Eucalyptus saligna smith essential oils against major stored product insect pests. Ind Crop Prod 110:65–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bushra S, Aslam M (2014) Management of Sitotroga cerealella in stored cereal grains: a review. Arch Phytopathol Pflanzenschutz 47(19):2365–2376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caballero-Gallardo K, Olivero-Verbel J, Stashenko EE (2011) Repellent activity of essential oils and some of their individual constituents against Tribolium castaneum Herbst. J Agric Food Chem 59:1690–1696

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Campolo O, Giunti G, Russo A, Palmeri V, Zappalà L (2018) Essential oils in stored product insect pest control. J Food Qual 2018:6906105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaudhari AK, Singh VK, Kedia A, Das S, Dubey NK (2021) Essential oils and their bioactive compounds as eco-friendly novel green pesticides for management of storage insect pests: prospects and retrospects. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28(15):18918–18940

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chu SS, Liu SL, Liu QZ, Jiang GH, Liu ZL (2013) Chemical composition and insecticidal activities of the essential oil of the flowering aerial parts of Aster ageratoides. J Serbian Chem Soc 78(2):209–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chu SS, Liu SL, Liu QZ, Liu ZL, Du SS (2011) Composition and toxicity of Chinese Dracocephalum moldavica (Labiatae) essential oil against two grain storage insects. J Med Plant Res 5(18):4621–4626

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Bakry AM, Abdel-Aziz NF, Sammour EA, Abdelgaleil SAM (2016) Insecticidal activity of natural plant essential oils against some stored product insects and their side effects on wheat seed germination. Egypt J Biol Pest Control 26(1):83–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Emamjomeh L, Imani S, Talebi Jahromi K, Moharramipour S (2021) Nanoencapsulation enhances the contact toxicity of Eucalyptus globulus Labill and Zataria multiflora Boiss essential oils against the third instar larvae of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Int J Pest Manag 2021:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Emamjomeh L, Imani S, Talebi KH, Moharramipour S, Larijani K (2017) Preparation of nanoemulsion formulation of essential oil of Zataria multiflora and comparison of contact toxicity with pure essential oil on Ephestia kuehniella. Entomol Phytopathol 85:181–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Filomeno CA, Barbosa LCA, Teixeira RR, Pinheiro AL, de Sá FE, Ferreira JS, Picanço MC (2020) Chemical diversity of essential oils of Myrtaceae species and their insecticidal activity against Rhyzopertha Dominica. Crop Prot 137:105309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fogang HPD, Womeni HM, Piombo G, Barouh N, Tapondjou LA (2012) Bioefficacy of essential and vegetable oils of Zanthoxylum xanthoxyloides seeds against Acanthoscelides obtectus (say) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). J Food Prot 75:547–555

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hüsnü CB, Buchbauer G (2015) Handbook of essential oils: science, technology, and applications. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Ikawati S, Himawan T, Abadi AL, Tarno H (2020) Fumigant and feeding deterrent activity of essential oils against Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae). Biodiversitas 21(9):4301–4308

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ismail EH (2018) Toxicity, repellency and latent effects of some medicinal oils against Tribolium confusum and T. castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). J Entomol Zool Stud 6:1337–1347

    Google Scholar 

  • Jesser EN, Werdin-González JO, Murray AP, Ferrero AA (2017) Efficacy of essential oils to control the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). J Asia Pac Entomol 20(4):1122–1129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karakoç ÖC, Alkan M, ÅžimÅŸek Åž, Gökçe A, Halit ÇAM (2018) Fumigant activity of some plant essential oils and their consustent against to Stegobium paniceum and Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobidae). Plant Prot Bull 58(3):163–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Kavallieratos NG, Boukouvala MC, Ntalli N, Skourti A, Karagianni ES, Nika EP, Kontodimas DC, Cappellacci L, Petrelli R, Cianfaglione K, Morshedloo MR, Tapondjou LA, Rakotosaona R, Maggi F, Benelli G (2020) Effectiveness of eight essential oils against two key stored-product beetles, Prostephanus truncatus (horn) and Trogoderma granarium everts. Food Chem Toxicol 139:111255

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kavallieratos NG, Nika EP, Skourti A, Xefteri DN, Cianfaglione K, Perinelli DR, Spinozzi E, Bonacucina G, Canale A, Benelli G, Maggi F (2022) Piperitenone oxide-rich Mentha longifolia essential oil and its nanoemulsion to manage different developmental stages of insect and mite pests attacking stored wheat. Ind Crop Prod 178:114600

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kedia A, Prakash B, Mishra PK, Chanotiya CS, Dubey NK (2014) Antifungal, antiaflatoxigenic, and insecticidal efficacy of spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) essential oil. Int Biodeterior Biodegradation 89:29–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kedia A, Prakash B, Mishra PK, Dwivedy AK, Dubey NK (2015a) Biological activities of Cuminum cyminum seed oil and its major components against Callosobruchus chinensis and Sitophilus oryzae. J Asia Pac Entomol 18:383–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kedia A, Prakash B, Mishra PK, Singh P, Dubey NK (2015b) Botanicals as eco friendly biorational alternatives of synthetic pesticides against Callosobruchus spp.(Coleoptera: Bruchidae)-a review. J Food Sci Technol 52(3):1239–1257

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SI, Park C, Ohh MH, Cho HC, Ahn YJ (2003) Contact and fumigant activities of aromatic plant extracts and essential oils against Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae). J Stored Prod Res 39(1):11–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiran S, Kujur A, Patel L, Ramalakshmi K, Prakash B (2017) Assessment of toxicity and biochemical mechanisms underlying the insecticidal activity of chemically characterized Boswellia carterii essential oil against insect pest of legume seeds. Pestic Biochem Physiol 139:17–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiran S, Prakash B (2015) Toxicity and biochemical efficacy of chemically characterized Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil against Sitophilus oryzae and Oryzaephilus surinamensis. Ind Crop Prod 74:817–823

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kostyukovsky M, Rafaeli A, Gileadi C, Demchenko N, Shaaya E (2002) Activation of octopaminergic receptors by essential oil constituents isolated from aromatic plants: possible mode of action against insect pests. Pest Manag Sci 58:1101–1106

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu ZL, Ho SH (1999) Bioactivity of the essential oil extracted from Evodia rutaecarpa hook f. et Thomas against the grain storage insects, Sitophilus zeamais Motsch. And Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). J Stored Prod Res 35:317–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahdi KR, Behnam AB (2018) Fumigant toxicity and repellency effect of orange leaves Citrus sinensis (L.) essential oil on Rhyzopertha Dominica and Lasioderma serricorne. J Essent Oil Bear Plan 21:577–582

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Evaristo XC, Borboa-Flores J, Wong-Corral FJ, Cinco-Moroyoqui FJ, Del-Toro-Sánchez CL, González-de León A, Ortega-Nieblas MM, Cornejo-Ramirez YI, Osuna-Amarillas PS, Cabral-Torres FA (2015) Insecticidal efficacy and repellency of oregano (Lippia palmeri) essential oil for control of Sitophilus zeamais and Prostephanus truncatus in stored maize. Southwestern Entomol 40(4):713–720

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mondal M, Khalequzzaman M (2009) Ovicidal activity of essential oils against red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). J Biosci 17:57–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Mound L (1989) Common insect pests of stored food products. Economic series no. 15 (7th Edn). British Museum (Natural History), London, UK, p 68

    Google Scholar 

  • Naseri B, Abedi Z, Abdolmaleki A, Jafary-Jahed M, Borzoui E, Mansouri SM (2017) Fumigant toxicity and sublethal effects of Artemisia khorassanica and Artemisia sieberi on Sitotroga cerealella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). J Insect Sci 15(5):100

    Google Scholar 

  • Nattudurai G, Baskar K, Paulraj MG, Islam VIH, Ignacimuthu S, Duraipandiyan V (2017) Toxic effect of Atalantia monophylla essential oil on Callosobruchus maculatus and Sitophilus oryzae. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24:1619–1629

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Negahban M, Moharramipour S, Sefidkon F (2007) Fumigant toxicity of essential oil from Artemisia sieberi Besser against three stored product insects. J Stored Prod Res 43:123–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ogendo JO, Kostyukovsky M, Ravid U, Matasyoh JC, Deng AL, Omolo EO, Kariuki ST, Shaaya E (2008) Bioactivity of Ocimum gratissimum L. oil and two of its constituents against five insect pests attacking stored food products. J Stored Prod Res 44(4):328–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pantenius C (1988) Storage losses in traditional maize granaries in Togo. Insect Sci Appl 9(6):725–735

    Google Scholar 

  • Papachristos DP, Stamopoulos DC (2004) Fumigant toxicity of three essential oils on the eggs of Acanthoscelides obtectus (say) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). J Stored Prod Res 40:517–525

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papachristos DP, Stamopoulos DC (2009) Sublethal effects of three essential oils on the development, longevity and fecundity of Acanthoscelides obtectus (say) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Hell Plant Prot J 2:91–99

    Google Scholar 

  • PolatoÄŸlu K, Karakoç ÖC, Yücel YY, Gücel S, Demirci B, BaÅŸer KHC, Demirci F (2016) Insecticidal activity of edible Crithmum maritimum L. essential oil against coleopteran and lepidopteran insects. Ind Crop Prod 89:383–389

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rani PU (2012) Fumigant and contact toxic potential of essential oils from plant extracts against stored product pests. J Biopest 5(2):120–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt GH, Streloke M (1994) Effect of Acorus calamus (L.) (Araceae) oil and its main compound β-asarone on Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae). J Stored Prod Res 30(3):227–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shahab-Ghayoor H, Saeidi K (2015) Antifeedant activities of essential oils of Satureja hortensis and Fumaria parviflora against Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella Há¹»bner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Entomol Ornithol Herpetol 4(3):1–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharifian I, Hashemi SM, Darvishzadeh A (2013) Fumigant toxicity of essential oil of Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.) against three major stored product beetles. Arch Phytopathol Pflanzenschutz 46(4):445–450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shukla R, Singh P, Prakash B, Kumar A, Mishra PK, Dubey NK (2011) Efficacy of essential oils of Lippia alba (mill.) NE Brown and Callistemon lanceolatus (Sm.) sweet and their major constituents on mortality, oviposition and feeding behaviour of pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis L. J Sci Food Agric 91:2277–2283

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tapondjou LA, Adler CLAC, Bouda H, Fontem DA (2002) Efficacy of powder and essential oil from Chenopodium ambrosioides leaves as post-harvest grain protectants against six-stored product beetles. J Stored Prod Res 38(4):395–402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tayoub GH, Odeh AD, Ghanem IY (2012) Chemical composition and fumigation toxicity of Laurus nobilis L. and Salvia officinalis L. essential oils on larvae of khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium everts). Herba Pol 58(2):26–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Upadhyay N, Singh VK, Dwivedy AK, Das S, Chaudhari AK, Dubey NK (2019) Assessment of Melissa officinalis L. essential oil as an eco-friendly approach against biodeterioration of wheat flour caused by Tribolium castaneum Herbst. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26:14036–14049

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Y, Zhang WJ, Wang PJ, Yang K, Huang DY, Wei JY, Tian ZF, Bai JF, Du SS (2015) Contact toxicity and repellency of the essential oil of Liriope muscari (DECN.) bailey against three insect tobacco storage pests. Molecules 20(1):1676–1685

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou J, Zou K, Zhang W, Guo S, Liu H, Sun J, Borjigidai A (2018) Efficacy of compounds isolated from the essential oil of Artemisia lavandulaefolia in control of the cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne. Molecules 23(2):1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zuzarte M, Salgueiro L (2015) Essential oils chemistry. In: de Sousa DP (ed) Bioactive essential oils and cancer. Springer, Cham, Switzerland, pp 19–61

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Govt. General Degree College Mangalkote, Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal, India

    Akash Kedia

Authors
  1. Akash Kedia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India

    Bhanu Prakash

  2. Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India

    Nawal Kishore Dubey

  3. Department of Integrated Health Education, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vicotria, Brazil

    Jackline Freitas Brilhante de São José

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Kedia, A. (2024). Essential Oils against the Bio-Deteriorating Insect Pests of Stored Food Commodities. In: Prakash, B., Dubey, N.K., Freitas Brilhante de São José, J. (eds) Plant Essential Oils. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-4370-8_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation