Abstract Essential oils (EOs) from plants have been considered as a viable alternative to the use of synthetic insecticides for the control of insect pests. In the current study, we evaluated the formicidal activity of essential oils of two Myrcia lundiana (Myrtaceae) chemotypes, their major compounds and their binaries mixtures on Acromyrmex balzani (Emery, 1980) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The effects of essential oils on A. balzani were evaluated by fumigation toxicity bioassays and behavioral tests. The major concentration of isopulegol and citral in the essential oils characterized the two M. lundiana chemotypes, with 1,8-cineol being the second compound with the highest concentration. The essential oils and their major compounds were toxic to A. balzani workers. The isolated isopulegol and citral were around 14 and four times more toxic than the essential oils of their respective chemotypes. The mixture of the major compounds with 1,8-cineol resulted in an antagonistic effect. The treatments provoked rapid mortality and altered the walking behavior of A. balzani. Isopulegol resulted the highest toxicity, while the citral chemotype showed a more persistent repellent effect on A. balzani. The EOs of the M. lundiana chemotypes allow to obtain compounds for the development of new insecticides for the program management of leaf-cutting ants.

中文翻译：

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Myrcia lundiana 化学型精油对 Acromyrmex balzani 的杀虫活性

摘要 植物精油 (EO) 被认为是使用合成杀虫剂控制害虫的可行替代品。在目前的研究中，我们评估了两种 Myrcia lundiana（桃金娘科）化学型的精油、它们的主要化合物及其二元混合物对 Acromyrmex balzani（Emery，1980）（膜翅目：蚁科）的杀虫活性。通过熏蒸毒性生物测定和行为测试评估精油对 A. balzani 的影响。精油中异胡薄荷醇和柠檬醛的主要浓度表征了两种 M. lundiana 化学型，其中 1,8-桉树脑是浓度最高的第二个化合物。精油及其主要化合物对 A. balzani 工人有毒。分离出的异胡薄荷醇和柠檬醛的毒性大约是其各自化学型的精油的 14 倍和 4 倍。主要化合物与 1,8-桉树脑的混合物产生拮抗作用。这些治疗引起了快速死亡并改变了 A. balzani 的步行行为。异胡薄荷醇导致最高的毒性，而柠檬醛化学型对 A. balzani 显示出更持久的驱避作用。M. lundiana 化学型的 EO 允许获得用于开发新杀虫剂的化合物，用于切叶蚁的程序管理。而柠檬醛化学型对 A. balzani 显示出更持久的驱避作用。M. lundiana 化学型的 EO 允许获得用于开发新杀虫剂的化合物，用于切叶蚁的程序管理。而柠檬醛化学型对 A. balzani 显示出更持久的驱避作用。M. lundiana 化学型的 EO 允许获得用于开发新杀虫剂的化合物，用于切叶蚁的程序管理。