Comparison of the chemical composition and toxicity of lavender and spearmint plants’ essential oils on cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Col.: Chrysomelidae)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Paper, English

Authors

1 Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

2 Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

10.22117/jesi.2025.368353.1701

Abstract

The cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Col.: Chrysomelidae), is one of the most serious pests of legume crops worldwide, affecting both yield and quality. Humans have traditionally relied on chemical pesticides for control, which are hazardous to human health and the environment. Another sustainable means of pest management is through the use of plant essential oils. This study aimed to chemically characterize and evaluate the fumigation toxicity of essential oils from lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and spearmint (Mentha spicata) on cowpea weevil mortality and biological parameters. The main constituents of spearmint oil, as revealed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, were carvone (76.42%), menthol (3.29%), eucalyptol (3.27%), and D-limonene (3.12%). In comparison, the main constituents of lavender oil were linalool (38.01%), linalyl acetate (21.27%), eucalyptol (9.6%), camphor (8.07%), and lavandulol (5.11%). The oils were found to have LC50 values of 5.27 µL/L air (against males) and 10.12 µL/L air (against females) for lavender, and 9.45 µL/L air (against males) and 17.36 µL/L air (against females) for spearmint. Also, the effect of the two essential oils on the biological parameters of insects was assessed after exposure to LC30 concentrations. The LC30 application lowered egg deposition, extended larval duration, reduced hatching success, and shortened the lifespan of both sexes of weevils. According to these findings, lavender essential oil particularly holds promise as a management option for the cowpea weevil in integrated pest management (IPM) programs.

Graphical Abstract

Comparison of the chemical composition and toxicity of lavender and spearmint plants’ essential oils on cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Col.: Chrysomelidae)

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Journal of Entomological Society of Iran

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 19 August 2025

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