Abstract
The present work aimed to evaluate the effect of leaves essential oil of Schinus terebinthifolius on Acanthoscelides obtectus e Zabrotes subfasciatus. The leaf essential oil was extracted by stream distillation and diluted in acetone (v/v) to final dilutions of 10-2; 10-3; 10-4, 10-5, 10-6, 10-7 e 10-8 (v/v). Samples (1.0 mL) of pure acetone (control) or samples were added to Petri dishes (d = 9.0 cm) provided with autoclaved filter paper. After the solvent evaporation, 5 adult insects were placed in each plate, with 4 repetitions, in a randomized delineation, and the mortality rate was evaluated 24 and 48 hours after exposure to the essential oil. Concentration assayed between 10-2 and 10-7 led to complete mortality (100%) of A. obtectus, with the exposure during 48 hours to essential oil whereas the control experiment resulted in 30% of mortality in the same period. 100% of mortality was either obtained for Z. subfasciatus at the oil dilution of 10-2 and 10-3, after 24 and 48 hours; and 25% of mortality was observed for the control after 48 hours. These results pointed out to the high insecticidal potential of S. terebinthifolius essential oil against the insects tested.