Abstract

The Mediterranean flour moth (Ephestia kuehniella Zeller) is a worldwide pest of stored grains and other grain-based foods. In this research, the insecticidal activity and synergistic effects of the entomopathogenic fungus (Beauvaria bassiana) and three botanical compounds including: essential oils of Artemisia haussknechtii and Citrus vulgaris and extract of Azadirachta indica were tested against third instar larvae of E. kuehniella. All experiments were conducted in laboratory conditions at 28±1ºC, 65±5% RH and a photoperiod of 12: 12 (L: D). Results showed that all the botanical compounds and entomopathogenic fungi exhibited larvicidal activity against E. kuehniella. The LC50 values by probit analysis were 479.13 and 110.98 μl/l air, for essential oils of A. haussknechtii and C. vulgaris, 47502.6 ppm for extract of A. indica and 6.3 × 104 conidia/ml for B. bassiana, respectively. Results showed that the mixture of essential oil of C. vulgaris and B. bassiana fungi had synergistic effect on mortality of E. kuehniella larvae (SR=1.20).