Natural monoterpenoid insecticides for thrips and spotted-wing drosophila control

Overview

This solution features two monoterpenoid active ingredients (AIs) sourced from pennyroyal and basil essential oils that deliver effective control of two major horticultural pests: western flower thrips and spotted-wing drosophila. Preliminary and published findings indicate that these AIs achieve greater than 95% mortality in target pests while remaining benign to wild native bees, honeybees, and parasitoid wasps. The compounds exhibit novel neurotoxic modes of action distinct from existing insecticides, positioning them as a differentiated botanical alternative for integrated pest management programs in horticultural crops.

Technical specifications

Key features:

• Two monoterpenoid active ingredients derived from pennyroyal and basil essential oils
• LD50 values 7 to 15 times smaller than dichlorvos against thrips
• Kills approximately twice as many leafhoppers as spinetoram at comparable doses
• Rapid knockdown demonstrated by steeper dose-response curves in probit analysis
• LC50 values for plus/minus isomers and racemic mixture (0.079, 0.106, and 0.064 µg/cm3 respectively) compared favorably with dichlorvos (0.042 µg/cm3) against flower thrips
• Highly stereoselective toxic action, enabling optimization through isomer selection
• Novel neurotoxic mechanism distinct from conventional insecticide classes
• Selective safety profile: toxic to pest insects but benign to honeybees, parasitoids, and native bees
• Suitable for field-wide scale application in horticultural crops

Technology readiness level

The active ingredients have completed laboratory screening against 12 essential oil components across 8 pest insect species and 2 parasitic wasp species, yielding promising efficacy and safety data. Probit analyses and electrophysiological studies have confirmed the neurotoxic mode of action and stereoselective potency. Planned next-stage validation includes laboratory bioassays to determine LC50 and LC95 values for the two AIs, their isomers, and mixtures against western flower thrips and spotted-wing drosophila, alongside safety testing on native bees. Field trials are designed to demonstrate realistic control efficacy and non-target safety under horticultural production conditions, with statistical analysis via ANOVA and probit methods.