Abstract

Hylurgus ligniperdais one of the most important quarantine forest insects associated to pine (Pinus radiateD. Don) logs exported from Chile. Methyl bromide fumigation has been the prominent control method. As the use of this synthetic insecticide leads to serious environmental problems, research to find alternative treatments is urgently needed for the Chilean forestry sector. Hence, plant secondary metabolites have been considered as an alternative for its control. Therefore, the objective of this work was to assess the feeding behavior ofH. ligniperdathrough the artificial diet supplemented with organic fractions obtained fromCestrum parquileaves. Organic extracts were obtained using a Soxhlet extraction. Non-choice tests were developed for testing the antifeedant activity shown by the organic fractions on adults, and 5th and 6th instar larvae ofH. ligniperda. All the extracts tested elicited a decrease in the weight of unsexedH. ligniperdaadults, and the effects were dose-dependent. Male beetle weight gain was reduced strongly by chloroform extracts and ethyl acetate elicited a weight increase of female and from the fifth and sixth instar larvae weight. Saponin extract elicited a reduction of the weight in male and female. Finally, the weight of both instar larvae was reduced by chloroform and saponin extract.C. parquileaf extracts show a great potential for being used for controllingH. ligniperdaand thus to diminish the use of harmful synthetic pesticide.