Contact toxicity of ploy lactic acid nanofibers loaded with two essential oils against Plodia interpunctella Hub. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Abstract

In the most recent decade, nanoscale materials have received much attention because of their applications in the field of toxicology and biopesticides. Mentha piperita L. and Salvia officinalis L., as green pesticides were incorporated into Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) solution about 14%wt which were successfully electrospun into mats with ~58 nm fiber diameters. The contact toxicity of essential oils (EOs) was tested on first instar larvae of Plodia interpunctella after 72-h to evaluate the effect of PLA nanofibers loaded with the EOs versus the pure essential oils (PEO)s on the mortality of the larvae over one month. The comparison between LC50 of the formulated essential oils (NFO)s and PEOs showed a significant difference (p< 0.05. The NFOs showed higher contact toxicity than the PEOs to control this pest for a longer time with slow release efficiency. Moreover, M. piperita showed more toxicity than S. officinalis. The nanofibers cause surface tension. Therefore, it is evaluated that this formulation increases the contact toxicity efficiency of essential oils as green contact pesticide. The nanofibers cause surface tension. Therefore, it is inferred that this formulation increases the contact toxicity efficiency of essential oils as green contact pesticide.