Six essential oils extracted from Garlic ( Allium stavium) , mint ( Mentha piperitaa) , basil (Ociumum basillicum) , thyme ( Thymus vulgaris ), sesame ( Sesamum indicum) and chamomile ( Chamaemalum nobile) were tested for both repellency and toxicity against the confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum adult and last larval instar . Two kinds of repellency bioassays were performed by using filter paper test and treated kernels. The toxicological bioassay was performed by topical application. The result showed that the tested oils were highly repellent to the adult insect compared to the larvae. By contrast, the toxicological bioassay showed that larvae were more susceptible to tested essential oils than the adults. Effects of essential oils on five detoxification enzymes were also investigated. A reduction in total activities of the major detoxification enzymes in treated larvae was also observed.
Key words: essential oils- Tribolium confusum-repellency-detoxification enzyme
mona.mansour@fsc.bu.edu.eg