Laboratory evaluation of garlic oil against the saw toothed beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Silvanidae), and its effect on serotonin and acetylcholinesterase levels

Amal M. F. Al–Barty; Rania S.Rashwan; Reham Z.Hamza

Volume : IV, Issue : II, February - 2015

Laboratory evaluation of garlic oil against the saw toothed beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Silvanidae), and its effect on serotonin and acetylcholinesterase levels

Amal M. F. Al Ndash Barty, Rania S. Rashwan, Reham Z. Hamza

Abstract :

A laboratory experiment was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of three concentrations of garlic oil (Allium sativum) as a control measure against the saw toothed grain beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis infesting milled wheat grain. Mortality increased with an increase in both garlic oil concentration and exposure period. Offering beetles milled wheat grains treated with 1 % or 0.5% garlic oil caused 100% mortality to beetles after 8 and 10 days, respectively. The lowest tested concentration of 0.25% of garlic oil led to 71.5% mortality at the termination of the investigation (i.e. 10 days). Administration of garlic oil at 1 and 0.5% concentration lead to significant decrease in serotonin and acetyl-cholinesterase levels as compared to untreated beetles. This effect was less apparent when 0.25% concentration was applied, that reflect the activity of garlic oil extract against stored product insect Oryzaephilus surinamensis which lead to insect dead. Results of the present work indicate that garlic oil could be used as a control measure against Oryzaephilus surinamensis beetles.