Insecticidal activities of essential oils from fruits of Litsea salicifolia Roxb. ex Wall. Against Sitophilus zeamais motschulsky and tribolium castaneum (Herbst)

The insecticidal activities of essential oil extracted from litsea salicifolia to sitophilus zeamais and tribolium castaneum were investigated under laboratory conditions. essential oil was extracted by hydro-distillation method and then analyzed by gc/ms. the major components of i. salicifolia were (e)-citral and (z)-citral. litsea salicifolia had repellency effect on both insect species even at the lowest application rate (0.16 μg/cm2). in addition,it exhibited fumigant toxicity to s. zeamais,contact toxicity to both species and high antifeedant toxicity to t. castaneum compared to 5. zeamais. hence,l. salicifolia might be considered as a grain protectant to major stored product insects. copyright 2010 zoological society of pakistan.