Evaluation of the toxicity of a Bioinsecticide Formulation based on Essential Oils of Artemisia Absinthium L. and Artemisia Herba Alba on the Beetle Pest ‘’Tribolium Castaneum’’

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition and evaluate the insecticidal formulation of essential oils from Artemisia herba-alba and Artemisia Absinthium (aerial parts) in Algeria using the microencapsulation technique. Fumigation toxicities were assessed against a major stored-product beetle: Tribolium castoreum. The chemical composition of both oils was characterized by qualitative and quantitative differences. The main common compounds of Artemisia. Herba Alba were camphor, 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol), camphene, α-thujone, β-thujone, and chrysanthemum, while β-thujone was the characteristic component of A. Absinthium oil. The results indicated that both oils exhibited potential fumigant toxicity. Fumigation bioassays showed that the essential oil of A. herba-alba was more toxic against T. castoreum. The LC₅₀ and LC₉₅ values revealed that the essential oil of Artemisia Herba-Alba was more effective than that of Artemisia A absinthium. Our work highlights the importance of using microencapsulated formulations of Artemisia essential oils in Algeria, both as fumigants and as bioinsecticides against economically important stored-product pests