Effectiveness of essential oils, clove (<i>Syzygium aromaticum</i>) and basil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i>) on <i>Ephestia cautella</i> (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

This study investigates the efficacy of essential oils derived from clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and basil (Ocimum basilicum) as ecofriendly alternatives for managing the almond moth, Ephestia cautella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a significant pest in stored-product systems. Essential oils were extracted via hydro distillation and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to determine their chemical compositions. The primary constituents identified were eugenol in clove oil. While in basil oil, Cyclohexane, 1-butenylidene, Chavicol, and linalool. All are known for their insecticidal properties. Bioassays evaluated the toxic, fumigant, and repellent effects of these oils across various life stages of E. cautella. For testing the feeding toxicity, 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 10, and 1 ppm/5g artificial media were used. In case of fumigate toxicity, 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 10, and 1 μl/l air). Clove oil demonstrated superior efficacy, with LC50 values significantly lower than basil oil for larvae, adults, and eggs, confirming its potent insecticidal properties. Mortality rates approached 100% at lower concentrations for clove oil compared to basil oil. Repellency assays further highlighted clove oil's effectiveness, achieving 100% repellency at higher concentrations. Statistical analyses reinforced these findings, underscoring clove oil’s potential as a preferred biopesticide. The results emphasize the promise of clove oil in integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, offering a sustainable and effective alternative to synthetic pesticides. Future research should address formulation development, cost-efficiency, and field efficacy to facilitate commercial application.