• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.395-402
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• 2017

Overuse of synthetic pesticides caused negative side-effects such as environmental contamination, development of insect pests' resistance, and effects on non-target organisms. Plant origin substances without/or with low mammalian toxicity have been considered as promising alternatives to the synthetic pesticides. Fumigant toxicity of the essential oil of Iranian Yarrow, Achillea millefolium L., was investigated against a cosmopolitan stored-product insect pest: saw-toothed grain beetle (Oryzaephilus surinamensis L.). Chemical profile of this essential oil was studied by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Tested concentrations were significantly effective to the mortality of insect pest. A positive correlation between essential oil concentrations and pest mortality were realized. LC50 value (lethal concentration needed to 50% mortality) was achieved as $17.977(16.195{\pm}20.433){\mu}l/l$ air. The main components were 1,8-Cineole (13.17%), nerolidol (12.87%), ${\alpha}$-cubebene (12.35%), artemisia ketone (6.69%), ${\alpha}$-terpineol (5.27%), alloaromadendrene oxide (4.71%) and borneol (3.99%). Terpenic compounds including monoterpene hydrocarbons (8.19%), monoterpenoids (44.23%), sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (21.69%) and sesquiterpenoids (22.24%) were 96.35% of the total identified compounds. Results indicated that the terpene-rich A. millefolium essential oil may be considered as a safe bio-agent in the O. surinamensis management.