Insecticidal and antifeedant activities of medicinal plant extracts against Attagenus unicolor japonicus (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

Methanol extracts from 28 medicinal plant species were tested for their insecticidal and antifeedant activities against Attagenus unicolor japonicus larvae by using a fabric-piece bioassay. Responses varied according to plant species, dose, and exposure time. Methanol extract of Allium sativum bulb gave 93% mortality at 5.2 mg/cm(2) 7 days after treatment (DAT). Eugenia caryophyllata bud extract produced 100% mortality at 2.6 mg/cm(2) 14 DAT and 90% mortality at 1.3 mg/cm(2) 221 DAT. Foeniculum vulgare fruit extract gave 67% and 100% mortality at 5.2 mg/cm(2) 21 and 28 DAT, respectively. Methanol extracts of Angelica dahurica root, Lysimachia davurica whole plant, and Nardostachys chinensis rhizome exhibited complete antifeedant activity at 1.3 mg/cm(2) over a 30-day period. The plant extracts described merit further study as potential insecticidal or antifeedant agents against A. unicolor japonicus. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.