톱다리개미허리노린재는 최근 농약사용 횟수의 증가로 천적이 사라지면서 전국적으로 크게 발생을 하고 있다. 톱다리개미허리노린재는 년 2~3회 발생하며 포장 잔재물이나 포장 주위의 잡초 등에서 성충으로 월동한 후 다음 해 봄 기주작물인 콩과 작물, 과수작물, 곡류작물에 피해를 주는데 이중 콩이 가장 적합한 먹이원이며 피해가 가장 크다. 콩의 열매 성숙 초기 즉 착협기에 일어나는 톱다리개미허리노린재에 의한 섭식 피해가 수확량에 직접적인 영향을 주기 때문이다. 본 실험은 톱다리개미허리노린재에 대한 기피제 개발 목적으로 미나리과 식물체정유인 아조완 정유와 그 성분들의 톱다리개머허리노린재 성충 및 약충에 대한 기피 활성을 실험실내에서 four-arms olfactometer를 이용하여 조사하였다. 아조완 정유를 1.25 mg의 농도에서 처리했을 때 성충 수컷 89% 및 암컷 성충 90%가 기피를 보였다. 4령 약충의 경우, 성충과 같은 농도로 처리했을 때 73%의 기피 활성이 나타났다. 아조완 정유의 기피 활성 물질을 확인하기 위해 GC-MS로 정유를 분석하였고 12종의 정유 성분을 확인하였다. 12종의 아조완 정유성분들 중 각 성충 수컷과 암컷, 4령 약충에서 1 mg 농도로 처리했을 때 thymol과 carvacrol이 100%의 강한 기피 활성을 보였다. 아조완 정유와 정유성분들은 톱다리개미허리노린재의 집합페로몬 트랩과 같이 “push and pull”전략에 활용이 가능할 것으로 판단된다.

We evaluated the larvicidal activity of 20 plant essential oils and components from ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi) and Peru balsam (Myroxylon pereira) oils against Aedes aegypti. Of the 20 plant essential oils, ajowan and Peru balsam oils at 0.1 mg/mL exhibited 100% and 97.5% larval mortality, respectively. At this same concentration, the individual constituents, (+)-camphene, benzoic acid, thymol, carvacrol, benzyl benzonate and benzyl trans-cinnamate caused 100% mortality. The toxicity of blends of constituents identified in 2 active oils indicated that thymol and benzyl benzoate were major contributors to the larvicidal activity of the artificial blend. We also tested the acute toxicity of these 2 active oils and their major constituents against the water flea, Daphnia magna. Peru balsam oil and benzyl trans-cinnamate were the most toxic to D. magna. Two days after the treatment, residues of ajowan and Peru balsalm oils in water were 36.2% and 85.1%, respectively. Less than 50% of benzyl trans-cinnamate and thymol were detected in the water at 2 days after treatment. Our results show that the essential oils of ajowan and Peru balsam and some of their constituents have potential as botanical insecticides against Ae. aegypti mosquito larvae.

Plant essential oils from 26 plant species were tested for their insecticidal activities against the Japanese termite, Reticulitermes speratus Kolbe, using a fumigation bioassay. Responses varied with source, exposure time, and concentration. Among the essential oils tested, strong insecticidal activity was observed with the essential oils of ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi), allspice (Pimenta dioica), caraway (Carum carvi), dill (Anethum graveolens), geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), and litsea (Litsea cubeba). The composition of six essential oils was identified by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The compounds thus identified were tested individually for their insecticidal activities against Japanese termites. Responses varied in a dose-dependent manner for each compound. Phenol compounds exhibited the strongest insecticidal activity among the test compounds further, alcohol and aldehyde groups were more toxic than hydrocarbons. The essential oils and compounds described herein merit further study as potential fumigants for termite control.