Journal of Entomological Research
SCOPUSWeb of Science
  • Year: 2023
  • Volume: 47
  • Issue: 3

Fumigant toxicity, development and behavior assay of Ruta montana essential oil against Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

1Water and Environment Laboratory, Echahid Cheikh Larbi Tebessi University, Tebessa, Algeria

Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Applications, Echahid Cheikh Larbi Tebessi University, Tebessa, Algeria

*Corresponding authors’ E-mail: hayette.bouabida@univ-tebessa.dz

Online published on 13 September, 2023.

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential insecticidal activity of the essential oil of a medicinal plant Ruta montana cultivated in the semi-arid region of Tebessa (north-eastern Algeria) against a model organism Drosophila melanogaster. The yield in essential oil (E.O.) calculated from the dry matter of the aerial part of the plant was 1.49 ± 0.27%, D. melanogaster adults were exposed to various concentrations of R. montana EO. The fumigation test showed it’s indicative that the values of CL25, CL50 and CL90 of the essential oil of R. montana obtained after 24 h were 0.64, 1.31 and 5.36 μL/Lair. In addition, two concentrations LC25 and LC50 of R. montana EO significantly increased the development time for three generations and a remarkable locomotor deficit. R. montana EO is recommended as alternative synthetic pesticides in Algeria, to control D. melanogaster.

Keywords

Development duration, Drosophila melanogaster, Ruta montana, Toxicity