Análise da repelência de Tenebrio Molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) utilizando plantas da família Verbenaceae

Abstract

Pests from stored products, such as Tenebrio molitor, are considered severe as they promote direct attack on the grains produced, resulting in quantitative and qualitative losses. To control these pests, chemical products are used, but the indiscriminate and incorrect use of these products causes harm to the environment and even to human health. Botanical repellents have been standing out in recent times for offering less risk to human health, the environment and due the growing demand for healthier food products, free of pesticides. Lippia alba and Lantana trifolia, as well as most plant species in the Verbenaceae family, produce secondary metabolites that can repel attacks by herbivorous insects. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the repellent potential of the powder obtained from the leaves of the species L. alba and L. trifolia on T. molitor, in repellency tests using arenas, in different weights. The tests showed greater repellent potential of L. alba powder in weights of 0.1g (RI=0.52±0.23) and 1.0g (RI=0.21±0.35) and repellent potential of L. trifolia powder with 0.1g (RI=0.52±0.46). It is considered that the powder of the plants, L. alba and T. trifolia, can be used as repellents of T. molitor and it is suggested that other parts of the plants, the aqueous extracts and their essential oils could be tested to assess whether they will have greater efficiency than the use of powders from leaves.