Insectifugal and insecticidal potentials of two tropical botanical essential oils against cowpea seed bruchid.

Essential oils (EO) obtained from Xylopia parviflora root bark and Hoslundia opposita leaf via hydro distillation were analysed by GC-MS and evaluated for their insectifugal (repellent) and insecticidal activities against cowpea seed bruchid (Callosbruchus maculatus Fabricius), a cosmopolitan pest of cowpea seeds. X. parviflora was predominated by sesquiterpenes (59.57%), with the main compounds being β-himachalene (22.68%), 1,7,7,Trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-ol (19.68%), β-elemene (14.41%), 5(1H)-Azulenone, 2,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-3,8-dimethyl-4-(1-methylethylidene)-(85-cis)- (12.38%) and (-)-α-parasinsen (8.34%). The predominant compounds in H. opposita EO were 1,8-cineole (61.15%), followed by α-terpineol (16.81%) and β-phellandrene (13.25%). Percentage repellence at application rates of 0.66-1.32 μl/cm2 (46.93-73.07%) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of control (17.73%). RD50 (repellence dose for 50% of treated adults) for H. opposita (0.43 μl/cm2) was not significantly different from the value for X. parviflora (0.60 μl/cm2). Although higher percentage of male mortality than female mortality was observed due to topical application of the EOs, the disparity was not significant. The results of correlation of the chemical groups of the EOs with the insectifugal activity indicate that the observed bioactivity was due to the synergistic effects of the chemical groups. The two EOs are therefore recommended for incorporation into bruchid protection schemes in the tropics.