Antifeedant effect of plant extracts on the poultry pest alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): An exploratory study

Abstract

In this exploratory study, the antifeedant activity of ethanolic extracts of nine plants native from central region of Argentina on Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) was evaluated, looking for low environmental impact management alternatives. Adults of A. diaperinus were exposed to food treated with the extracts to assess whether feeding behaviour and survival were altered. None of the extracts affected adult survival. However, the extracts of Gaillardia megapotamica, Vernonanthura nudiflora, Baccharis artemisioides, Lithraea molleoides, and Ambrosia artemisiifolia had a strong antifeedant effect (92-96%). The other extracts evaluated slightly affected (50-55%) the food consumption. The extracts of G. megapotamica and B. artemisioides were administered with the food to the fifth larval stage to assess whether they affect survival, feeding behaviour, and weight of immature forms. The B. artemisioides extract generated a marked deterrent effect of feeding on the larvae (76%) during the first week of experimentation, although the effect weakened over time. On the other hand, G. megapotamica produced a moderate deterrent effect (41-74%) throughout the experiment. The extracts also affected weight, survival, and number of larval exuviae in relation to the control.