Efficacy of nano-formulated certain essential oils on the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum and confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) under laboratory and storage conditions

Abtract

Background

The confused flour beetles Tribolium confusum (Jacquelin) and red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) are widespread insects found in the stores and homes that attack many stored foods in several commodities. They are controlled by synthetic chemical insecticides. The natural oils give good results in controlling these pests and decreasing its infestations. The natural essential oils have a low effect on the human, non-target insects, and do not pollute the environments. This research is an alternative approach to naturally control these two stored product pests.

Methods

Nano-formulations of four essential oils, namely, coriander, black seed, caraway oil, and Janesville were tested against T. confusum and T. castaneum in the laboratory and stored conditions. Encapsulation method by the technology of polymerization was followed. The nano-oils were tested at the concentrations of 0.5% against the 3rd larval instars. Cumulative percentages of mortality was determined after 7 days of the first applications. The effect of nano-oils on oviposition was carried out by spraying 2 g of foams of the tested oils and their nano-formulations mixed with 100 g of wheat.

Results

The results obtained showed that the percentage of larval mortality of T. confusum and T. castaneum increased with an increase in the treatment concentrations. Larvae of T. confusum were more susceptible to the treatments than T. castaneum larvae. Nano Janesville oil was more effective than that of coriander or black seed oil. Fecundity and adult emergence percentage are highly suppressed by nano-formulations of coriander, black seed, or Janesville oils under storage conditions, compared to those of the controls or non-nano-oils.

The results suggested that nano Janesville can be used as a valuable tool in pest management programs of T. confusum and T. castaneum

Conclusion

The results of this work indicate that some essential oils might be helpful management of pests in the stores because of their fumigant and odor action. Essential oils of plant origin contain active ingredients that are effective against many insects. Nano-formulations of essential oils, through controlled release, prevent rapid vaporization and degradation and increase the stability of the oils. Treated foam, using coriander, Janesville, caraway, and black seed (habat al Baraka) oils, gave protection against the red flour beetles Tribolium castaneum and confused flour beetle Tribolium confusum.

Background

The flour beetles Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val, and the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), are widespread insects that attack stored grains and foods in several commodities. In stores, the adults and larvae feed on broken and fine-ground grains resulting in serious damage to seeds. These pests may give rise to considerable economic losses if not adequately controlled because they have a very high rate of population increase (Abdel Rahman et al. 2014). Natural insecticides of low mammalian toxicity, e.g., diatomaceous earth (DEs), are used against a wide range of insect species. So, it can be inserted into Integrated Stored Grain Insect Management Programs (Subramanyam and Roesli 2000). DEs adhere directly to the insect body to the insect body resulting in absorbing the oily or waxy outer cuticle layer leading to the loss of water and eventually death of insect loses water and dies (Ebeling 1971). Various DE formulations have been estimated against different stored product pests. They are not toxic, easy to be removed from the grains, and possibly recycled in storage bins.

Nanotechnology is a new promising field of research. It shows a wide range in various fields like insecticides, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. The possible uses of nanotechnology are massive. The physical, biological, and chemical properties of nanoparticles are associated with their atomic strength (Athanassiou, et al., 2008 & 2005). Silica nanoparticles do not affect the looseness and bulk density of grain mass-like DE even with the highest dose used (Korunic, 1997). Under laboratory and storage conditions, the nanoparticles of aluminum oxide and titanium oxide highly reduce the infestations of Sitophilus oryzae (Sabbour, 2012). Nanoparticles of Cab-O-Sil-750 and Cab-O-Sil-500 were highly effective in controlling Sitophilus oryzae (Sabbour (2013a and 2013b)

Material and methods

Tested insects

Larvae and adults of T. castaneum and T. confusum reared under laboratory conditions (26 ± 2 °C and 70–80% R.H. with 16-h light and 8-h dark) on semi-artificial diet consisting of fine wheat with some adherent endosperm with 20% glycine and 5% yeast powder.

Essential oils

Four essential oils were used in the bioassay tests: coriander, oil, Janesville, caraway, and black seed (habat al Baraka). They were obtained by steam distillation of dried plants (Guenther 1961).

Oil emulsions were prepared as follows: 5 drops of Triton X-100 as emulsifier were mixed thoroughly with 5 ml of each tested oil, and then water was added to obtain the desired concentrations (2%) in percent of v/v. The emulsifier was mixed at the corresponding concentrations and used as a check. To evaluate the insecticidal activity of tested oils during sequential times (24, 48, 96, and 168 h), foam granules (1 cm in diameter) were treated at zero time with 2% of the tested oils dried and provided with heat sterilized rice 100 g seeds each) fastened each with a string. Then all treatments were used immediately as non-choice test. The foam particles were treated with the natural oils, which were mixed with stored seeds (2g foam/100g seeds) according to (Abd El-Aziz, 2001). Oil emulsions were prepared as follows: 5 drops of Triton X-100 as emulsifier were mixed thoroughly with 5 ml of each tested oil, and then water was added to obtain the desired concentrations (2%) in percent of (v/v). The emulsifier was mixed at the corresponding concentrations and used as a check. To evaluate the insecticidal activity of tested oils during sequential times (24, 48, 96, and 168 h), foam granules (1 cm in diameter) were treated at zero time with 2% of the tested oils dried and provided with heat-sterilized rice 100 g seeds each, fastened each with a string. Then all treatments were used immediately as non-choice test. The foam particles were treated with the natural oils, which were mixed with stored seeds (2 g foam/100 g seeds) according to Sabbour and Abd El-Aziz (2016).

A pair of newly emerged weevils were placed with treated or untreated rice seeds in glass jars (250 ml capacity) covered with muslin. The number of dead weevils in each jar was counted every day and percentages of mortality were corrected using Abbottʼs formula (Abbott 1925). The LC50 was calculated through the probit analysis (Finney 1971). The experiments were conducted under the National Research Centre laboratories conditions of 27 ± 2 °C and 60–65% R. H. The experiment was replicated four times.

Nanoencapsulation

It is a process through which a chemical is slowly but efficiently released to the particular host for insect pests control. “Release mechanisms include dissolution, biodegradation, diffusion, and osmotic pressure with specific (pH, 4.4)”. The nanoencapsulation process was carried out by polymerization technology. The tested oils were used as a core material and urea (U) and formaldehyde (F) as shell materials. Sulfuric acid solution (10% w/w) was prepared in our laboratory to control the pH (4.4) of emulsion, and tween 80 (polysorbate 80) was used as an emulsifier (Merck, Germany). The suspension obtained of nanocapsules was cooled down to ambient temperature, rinsed with deionized water, filtered, and finally dehydrated by freeze-drying using a LIO-5P, which is a Freeze Dryers for Laboratory Use. (Apparatus CinquePascal, Trezzano SN, Milan, Italy). Nano-emulsion is prepared by high-pressure homogenization of 2.5% surfactant and 100% glycerol, to create stable droplets which that increase the retention of the oil and cause as low release of the nanomaterials. The release rate depends upon the protection time; consequently, a decrease in release rate can prolong insect pests protection time (Quintela and McCoy 1998). For each tested bulk essential oils, four concentrations were prepared (3, 1.5, 0.5, and 0.2%). While in the case of nano-essential oils, the tested concentrations were 0.1, 0.5, 0.05, and 0.005%. Three drops of emulsifier (Triton X-100) were mixed with water and used as a check. The tested oils (Bulk & Nano) were experimented at concentrations tested for their insecticidal activities against the 3rd instar larvae of target pests. According to Abd El-Aziz (2001), the foam granules were sprayed with the tested oils (Bulk &Nano) and were mixed with wheat (2 g foam/100 g wheat). For each tested concentration, four glass jars as replicates were used. Thereafter, ten third instar larvae were introduced into each glass jar and covered with muslin for suitable ventilation. In the case of untreated control, twelve replicates were kept under the same conditions without any treatments. After 7 days of exposure, mortality percentages were calculated in the treated and untreated control experiments. All tests were carried at 27 ± 2^oC and 65 ± 5% relative humidity (RH). The dead larvae numbers were estimated in each jar was used and the mortality percentage was determined. Each experiment was replicated four times. The tested oils (Bulk &Nano) were sprayed to the foam granules and were mixed with wheat (2 g foam/100 g wheat) for testing the oviposition inhibitory effects of tested oils (Abd El-Aziz 2001). In no-choice test, two pairs of mixed-sex of target moth adults (2–3 days old) were placed with treated or untreated wheat grains with foam particles in glass jars (250 cc capacity) covered with muslin. Adults female moths were left to lay their eggs, then the deposited egg numbers treated or untreated the grains/female were estimated in each of the tested jars. Four glass jars as replicates for each tested concentration were used and the test was repeated three times. The persistence effect of tested oils (Bulk and Nano) on foam as surface protectant was evaluated after storage interval 120 days (4 months) against target pests moths’ emergence. Hundred grams of heat sterilized wheat grains were introduced to gunny sacks (10 × 10 cm each) closed each with a string. The foam granules (about 1 cm in diameter) were sprayed with treatments, dried, and provided as a layer between sacks. Then, two pairs of newly emerged moths were placed in a jar (2 l capacity with two gunny sacks) and then removed the moths which died after lying egg. The count of the newly emerged adult moths after 120 days is about 4 months.

Statistical analysis

Data were statistically analyzed by F test; LSD value was estimated, using SPSS statistical program software.

Results

Table 1 shows coriander oil followed by Janesville oil which gave the highest mortality percentage after 7 days 80.3 and 85.4%, respectively, for T. castaneum and 84.8 and 87.9% for T. confusum as compared to control. The percentages of the accumulation mortality of both the target pests showed that the Janesville was the highest oil affected on mortality, which reached to 30.2 and 32.7 for T. castaneum and T. confusum after 0 days as compared to 0% in the control. After 7 days, the percentages of mortality reached 64.3 and 67.9% for the corresponding insects as compared to 0.2 and 0.1% in the control (Table 1)

Table 1 The accumulative mortality of T. castaneum and T. confusum during the first week of treated foam with different tested oils

Table 2 shows that the most effective nano-oils tested significantly decreased after 7 days of the first applications. When the nano-coriander was applied after 7 days, the percentage reached 89.3 and 98.7%, for T. castaneum and T. confusum, respectively (Table 2). Data in Table 2 show the effect of the nano-oils tested against the two pests which gave 85.3 and 89.9% mortality of T. castaneum and T. confusum when treated with nano-Janesville after 7 days compared to 0.1 and 0.1% in the control.

Table 2 The accumulative mortality of T. castaneum and T. confusum during the first week of treated foam with different tested nano oils

Table 3 shows that the nano-oils affected the female fecundity of T. castaneum; the number of eggs laid/female was significantly decreased by 40.45 fold after nano coriander treatments. The percentages of malformations reached to 100%. When T. castaneum was treated with nano Janesville, the percentages of T. castaneum significantly decreased by 27.46-fold and the malformed percentages of adults reached to 99% (Table 3). The effect of the tested nano-oils on the eggs laid/female found in Table 3 revealed that the mean number of eggs laid per female was significantly decreased to 10.4 ± 9.89, 21.4 ± 7.81, and 9.4 ± 1.87 eggs/female after treatment with nano coriander, nano black seed, and nano Janesville, respectively, as compared to 299.4 ± 1.88 eggs/female in the control (Table 4). Table 4 shows that the number of eggs laid/female due to treatments of T. castaneum with nano coriander, nano black seed oil, and nano Janesville reached 10.3 ± 0.0, 20.4 ± 1.21, and 10.4 ± 5.38 eggs/female, respectively, as compared to 297.9 ± 7.89 eggs/female in the control, respectively. Figures 1 and 2 show that the nano-oils tested were repellant to T. castaneum and T. confusum especially, in the case of treatment with coriander.

Table 3 Effect of the tested essential oils and nano-oils on eggs number laid per female and % of adult emergence (F1) of T. castaneum during storage periods

Table 4 Effect of the tested essential oils and nano-oils on eggs number laid per female and % of adult emergence (F1) of T. confusum during storage periods

Fig. 1

The repellent activity of the tested essential nano-oils on T. castaneum

Fig. 2

The activity of the tested essential nano-oils on Tribolium confusum

Discussions

The nano-oils decreased the infestations number of the target insect pests T. confusum and T. castaneum, under laboratory and field conditions. In this respect, Sabbour (2019) found that the nano-oils reduce the infestation number of C. maculatus and C. chinensis. These results are consistent with those obtained by Sabbour and Abd El-Aziz (2019), who reported that the incorporation of essential oils into a controlled release nano-formulations prevented rapid vaporization and degradation, increased constancy, and preserved the lower effective dosage/application. Also, the treated foam with nano rosemary and nano eucalyptus oil and covering gunny bags provided many efficient effects against Ephestia kuehniella and E. cautella (Sabbour and Shadia Abd El-Aziz 2019).

Padina et al. (2002) found that the Tribolium castaneum, causing seeds loss, may be controlled by the entomopathogenic fungi. Results are with Kim et al. (2010).

The action of essential oils against stored- product insects has been extensively studied and proved a repellancy of the insect larvae of T. castaneum. Sabbour and Abd El-Aziz, 2010; Sabbour and Abd El-Aziz, 2017; Sabbour and Abd El-Aziz, 2018) stated that the essential oils andnano essential oils have agreat replencey effect on stord produt insects during the storage preiod. they also, confirmed that the incorporation of tested nano -essential oils into a controlled release prevent with rapid vaporization, increases the constancy, causing a degradation and preserves the lower effective application dose.

Similar results were obtained by Sabbour and Abd El-Aziz (2018 and 2019), who found that the larvae of T. confusum were more susceptible to the nano-treatments than T. castaneum larvae and the Nano-DE was more effective than natural DE. The larval mortality percentage of T. confusum recorded 45, 39, and 29% and 70, 65, and 49% in the case of DE and nano-DE at 1.0, 0.5, and 0.25% concentrations, respectively, in comparison to 2% mortality in the untreated control. Similar results obtained by Shahmirzaei et al. (2016) mentioned that the fumigant toxicity of M. longifolia oil is more powerful than its contact toxicity. Using the technique of nanoemulsion can increase the contact activity of essential oil and its strength, out of the slow-release of active ingredients over time.

Sabbour (2013a, 2013b) found that M. anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana when combined with some extract oils could decrease the infestations of wheat and flour pests under laboratory and store conditions. Also, our results agree with Yang et al. (2009) who found that the activity of nanoparticles and essential oil is free garlic against red flour beetle. They cleared that the control effectiveness of the nanoparticles of garlic oil gave about 80% which followed by the garlic oil at concentrations of 11%. The combinations of biopesticided are recoded by Sabbour et al., 2014 who mentioned that the B.t suppress the infections of T. confusum and T. castneum under store conditions. The same obtains recoded by Sabbour (2014, 2015) found that the combinations of inorganic material and fungi reduce the number of stored pests T. confusum and T. castneum under store conditions. The same results obtained by Sabbour and Abd El Raheem (2015a & 2015b, 2016)

Similar results were obtained by Sabbour and Abd El Raheem (2016); three oils tested with the combinations with the fungus B. bassiana decreased the infestations of flour pests. The same obtained by Sabbour and Shadia Abd El Aziz (2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018). Sabbour and Abd-El-Aziz (2017) registered that the tested essential oils have a repellent action whereby the insect cannot come in contact with the grain.

Conclusion

The present study showed that the nano-oils of coriander, Janesville, and caraway were the most effective oils against T. castaneum and T. confusum. These results will be important and beneficial for controlling many these pests. Our results encourage the extension in the use of nanotechnology for pest control. Furthermore, essential oils are highly selective to insects. Incorporation of essential oils into a controlled release nano-formulation prevents rapid vaporization and degradation, increases constancy, and preserves the lower effective dosage/application.

These results established the criteria on which to base future experiments under simulated farmer storage practice.