Plant essential oils (EOs) exhibit an array of biological activities against insect pests. However, their negative influences on the pheromonal activity of azuki bean beetle (ABB), Callosobruchus chinensis L., the field-to-storage pest of legumes, have not received research attentions. We evaluated the effects of three EOs and their two major components on the attractiveness of male ABBS to synthetic homofarnesal (2E- : 2Z-homofarnesal = 6:4) using Y-tube olfactometry in laboratory and rocket traps in the semi-open vinyl house. The tested EOs of Illicium verum, Croton anisatum and Gaultheria fragrantissima as well as the major components, trans-anethole and methyl salicylate ascertained significant negative effect against homofarnesal both in Y-tube olfactometry and in semi-open vinyl house tracing out a new opportunity of integrating them in ABB management programs both in field and storage.

The acaricidal activities of Illicium verum fruit-derived materials against adults of Dermanyssus gallinae were examined using the direct contact application method. Based on laboratory tests, an acaricidal constituent of I. verum fruit was determined because of its potent activity. Results were compared with those of the currently used acaricides such as dichlorvos, diazinon, and carbaryl. The acaricidal principle of I. verum fruit was identified as (E)-anethole using a GC-MS. Its acaricidal activity was compared with those of 12 compounds having a similar chemical moiety. Based on the LD50 values, the acaricidal activities of (+)-or-(–)-neomenthol were the strongest (0.01 ㎎/㎠]) and (E)-anethole, (+)-or-(–)-menthol, (±)-isoborneol, (–)-menthone, and (1S)-endo-(–)-borneol showed similar results (0.02 ㎎/㎠), and (1R)-(+)-camphor and (+)-menthone also gave good activities (0.03 and 0.04 ㎎/㎠, respectively). These compounds showed more toxic acaricidal activities than diazinon and carbaryl, 0.05 and > 0.2 ㎎/㎠, respectively, but were not comparable to that of dichlorvos with 0.0002 ㎎/㎠. These results indicate that the I. verum fruit-derived materials and tested compounds descried as poultry red mites-control agents could be useful for managing field populations of D. gallinae.