Evaluation of insecticidal activity of Lavandula coronopifolia essential oil against the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The present investigation was aimed to assess the toxicity of Lavandula coronopifolia (Lamiaceae) essential oil (EO) against adult Mediterranean fruit fly. Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera Tephritidae) is one of the most destructive fruit pests in Morocco. Essential oil was extracted from leaves of lavender (L. coronopifolia) by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The main compound is carvacrol (48.9%) followed by E-caryophyllene (10.8%) and caryophyllene oxide (7.7%). The EO was examined in the laboratory for 7 days to assess their activity against Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) adults by ingestion toxicity. We also conducted oviposition bioassay in the laboratory, testing the oviposition deterrence of essential oils. The oil showed 75% mortality of adults at the concentration of 150 mu l/g after 24 h of exposure. Great differences in insect mortality were observed depending on the sex of the insects, oil concentrations and exposure time. The ingestion toxicity potential of L. coronopifolia on adults was higher (LC 50 = 86.34 mu l/g, LC 95 = 236.07 mu l/g) and also, deterred significantly the oviposition by C. capitata, reducing the number of eggs laid by about 94% compared with the controls for the concentration of 55 mu l/g. Results suggested that L. coronopifolia EOs may have potential as a control agent against this major stored product insect. (C) 2022 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of SAAB.