Controle de sitophilus zeamais em milho armazenado utilizando óleo essencial de eucalyptus globulus

Abstract

The present study involves researching and analyzing the effects of controlling Sitophilus zeamais in stored corn grains through the utilization of essential oil extracted from Eucalyptus globulus. The experiments were conducted in 3D-printed mini-silos, and the oil used was characterized by 100% purity and vegan origin. The research aimed to assess the effectiveness of control at 24-hour intervals, subjected to a temperature of 55°C. The tests recorded results at 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours, with three repetitions for each test. To conduct these experiments, 500g of corn were used in each of the three repetitions, and 10 insects were placed in each mini-silo. The efficacy of eucalyptus essential oil in combating weevils was evident, especially after 96 hours of exposure. This suggests that the use of this oil may be a viable option for pest control in storage facilities such as silos or dryers, as the insect mortality rate tends to increase with prolonged exposure to the oil.