Termiticidal activity of bio-oil from tobacco stem against the Asian subterranean termite Coptotermes gestroi

Bio-oil from hydrothermal carbonization of tobacco ( Nicotinia tabacum L) stem was investigated for its termiticidal activity against the Asian subterranean termite Coptotermes gestroi Wasmann (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae). Results of laboratory no-choice and choice feeding tests indicated that bio-oil from Virginia and Native tobacco stem was toxic to C. gestroi at 5 % concentration resulting in 87–100 % mortality after 3–5 days of exposure to treated filter paper. At lower concentration from 0.5 % to 1 %, termite mortality decreased significantly. Bio-oil from Native tobacco appeared to be more potent than that from Virginia in concentrations used in this study. Choice feeding test suggested that C. gestroi exhibited anti-feeding behavior on filter papers treated with 5 % or higher concentration of bio-oil. GC-MS analyses of the chromatogram identified the chemical components of bio-oil from Virginia and Native tobacco stems to be mostly organic acids and aromatic compounds which reportedly have a wide spectrum of activity against various insect pests. • The subterranean termite Coptotermes gestroi is a major structural pest of wood and wood products. • Bio-oil from tobacco stem is a potential source of natural insecticide against C. gestroi. • Hydrothermal carbonization is a cost-effective method to produce bio-oil. • Laboratory no-choice and choice feeding tests showed that tobacco bio-oil is toxic and has antifeeding effect on C. gestroi.