Rocha A G, Oliveira B M S, Melo C R, Sampaio T S, Blank A F, Lima A D, Nunes R S, Araújo A P A, Cristaldo P F, Bacci L
Programa de Pós Graduação em Agricultura e Biodiversidade (PPGAGRI), Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil.
Rede Nordeste de Biotecnologia (RENORBIO), Univ Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil.
Neotrop Entomol. 2018 Dec;47(6):769-779. doi: 10.1007/s13744-018-0615-6. Epub 2018 Jul 11.
Leaf-cutting ants belonging to the genus Atta (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) are important pests in agricultural and forest environments. In the present study, we evaluated the formicidal activity of the essential oil of Pogostemon cablin and its nanoformulation on the leaf-cutting ants: Atta opaciceps (Borgmeier, 1939), Atta sexdens (Linnaeus, 1758), and Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel, 1908. The nanoformulation was developed by magnetic stirring using polyoxyethylene (36%), pure ethanol (36%), essential oil of P. cablin (18%), and water (10%). Bioassays of acute toxicity by fumigation and behavioral bioassays in treated arenas, with and without choice, were performed. The essential oil of P. cablin and its nanoformulation demonstrated efficient insecticidal activity and irritability to ant species. The concentration required to kill 50% of workers varied from 1.06 to 2.10 μL L, with a mean time to death of less than or equal to 42 h. The essential oil of P. cablin and its nanoformulation reduced the displacement and velocity speed of the workers of A. opaciceps and A. sexdens rubropilosa in totally treated arenas. In the bioassays with choices, the three species of ants walked less and at a greater speed on the treated side of arena. This work demonstrates the potential of the essential oil of P. cablin and its nanoformulation to the generation of new formicidal products.
切叶蚁属（蚁科：切叶蚁亚科）的切叶蚁是农业和森林环境中的重要害虫。在本研究中，我们评估了广藿香精油及其纳米制剂对切叶蚁——暗头切叶蚁（博尔格迈尔，1939年）、热带切叶蚁（林奈，1758年）和红足切叶蚁（福雷尔，1908年）的杀蚁活性。该纳米制剂是通过磁力搅拌，使用聚氧乙烯（36%）、纯乙醇（36%）、广藿香精油（18%）和水（10%）制成的。进行了熏蒸急性毒性生物测定以及在有选择和无选择的处理场地中的行为生物测定。广藿香精油及其纳米制剂对蚂蚁种类表现出有效的杀虫活性。杀死50%工蚁所需的浓度在1.06至2.10 μL/L之间，平均死亡时间小于或等于42小时。广藿香精油及其纳米制剂降低了在完全处理场地中暗头切叶蚁和红足切叶蚁工蚁的移动距离和速度。在有选择的生物测定中，这三种蚂蚁在场地处理侧行走的距离较短且速度更快。这项工作证明了广藿香精油及其纳米制剂在开发新型杀蚁产品方面的潜力。
