Toxicity and Sublethal Effects of Piper hispidinervum Essential Oil on Behavioral and Physiological Responses of Sitophilus zeamais Populations

This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of <i>Piper hispidinervum</i> essential oil (PHEO) against 11 Brazilian populations of <i>Sitophilus zeamais</i> (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). The effects of sublethal doses of PHEO on the behavior (walking and flying), respiration, and population growth (<i>r_i</i>) of the insect populations were investigated. PHEO toxicity was determined through concentration-mortality bioassays, with mortality curves established using increasing PHEO concentrations ranging from 140.00 to 1000.00 μL kg^-1. Behavior was evaluated based on walking distance, walking time, walking speed, walking time proportion, flight height, and flight takeoff success. Respiration was measured via the respiratory rate, while population growth (<i>r_i</i>) was assessed through the instantaneous growth rate. All 11 populations of <i>S. zeamais</i> were susceptible to PHEO, showing no signs of resistance. The populations exhibited varying behavioral and physiological responses to sublethal exposure to PHEO, indicating different mitigation strategies. The results confirm that PHEO possesses insecticidal potential for controlling <i>S. zeamais</i> populations. However, the observed behavioral and physiological responses should be considered when establishing control measures in pest management programs for stored products.