Research Specifications

In pest management programs, plants essential oils and especially repellent activity of them concerned many researchers. Ziziphora sp. is medicinal plant, containing aromatic compounds which could affect the behavior of insects. In this study, aerial parts of Ziziphora clinopodioides (Lamiaceae) were collected from mountain Sahand hillsides. Dried in shadow and room temperature then extracted using distilled water using clevenger apparatus. Evaluated stored product pests including Anagasta kuehniella, Tribolium confusum, Sitophilus granarius L., Phthorimaea operculella, Trogoderma granarium, Rhyzopertha dominica and Oryzaephilus surinamensis, reared in controlled condition of 25±5˚C, relative humidity of 50±10% and a photoperiod of 16: 8 (L: D) hours. The emulsion formulation of Z. clinopodioides essential oil prepared using tween 20 as emulsifier. 100μl of emulsion in 10% concentration loaded on filter papers and located in one side of rectangle handmade olfactometer apparatus (27×11×2 cm, with ventilated lids) and in opposite position the same filter paper loaded with water and tween 20 located as control. In center of each piece of filter paper the same amount of insect’s natural diet was located. For evaluating repellent activity of essential oil, 10 adults of each insect species released in center of olfactometer. Presence of insects in each half of olfactometer recorded in 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours and percent of repellency calculated for each insect. Experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design. The results revealed that the Z. clinopodioides essential oil emulsion, 100% repelled adults of A. koehniella followed by 78% repellency against P. operculella and T. confusum. This emulsion repellency against S. granarius L. and O. surinamensis was 20 % and non-repellent effect recorded for R. dominica and T. granarium. The potential repellent activity of Z. clinopodioides essential oil emulsion, against studied Lepidoptera was more than coleopteran in