Ferulago campestris is an aromatic plant, distributed in Mediterranean Europe, and a source of essential oils (EOs) regarded as promising alternatives to synthetic herbicides and pesticides. F. campestris EO, hydrodistilled and analyzed, was tested for its antigerminative activity and for its effect on radicle elongation, hydrogen peroxide concentration, and lipid peroxidation on four infesting weed species (Papaver rhoeas, Taraxacum campylodes, Poa annua, and Setaria verticillata) and on Phaseolus vulgaris. Its repellent ability was also tested against Acanthoscelides obtectus, a pest commonly affecting P. vulgaris during storage. Moreover, a chitosan coating layer was developed with the addition of F. campestris EO and tested for its toxic and oviposition-deterring effects against A. obtectus. Myrcene, α-pinene, and γ-terpinene were detected as the main compounds in F. campestris EO. The EO demonstrated a selective in vitro antigerminative activity towards the weed species, without affecting the bean seeds. Moreover, the chitosan coating layer exerted a dose-dependent repellent effect against A. obtectus adults, thus effectively protecting the bean seeds, while preserving their germinative ability. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on a chitosan–EO coating proposed with the aim of protecting bean seeds for sowing from insect attack.

The fig weevil Aclees taiwanensis Kȏno, 1933 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an invasive fig tree pest recently introduced in southern Europe. Reported for the first time in France in 1997 as A. cribratus, and then in Italy in 2005 as A. sp. cf. foveatus, A. taiwanensis is currently threatening fig nurseries, orchards, and wild plants. To date, no control methods have proven to be effective against A. taiwanensis. Although some attempts have been made to describe the insect’s biology and behavior, such information is limited to that obtained from adult samples collected in the field. In particular, because of their xylophagous behavior, scarce information is available on the larval stages of the species. The aim of this study, therefore, was to fill these information gaps on the insect biology and behavior by setting up a laboratory protocol suitable for the rearing of A. taiwanensis. Using the developed rearing protocol, we assessed the main fitness parameters of the species including oviposition rate, egg hatchability, embryonic, larval and pupal duration and development, immature survival, pupation behavior, pupal weight, emergence, sex ratio and adult morphological parameters. The proposed rearing procedure allowed us to obtain new information on the main features of the insect’s biology that may be useful for setting up strategies for its control.

As there has been no scientific evidence of the bioactivity of Sambucus ebulus (Adoxaceae) extracts against insects, we chemically characterized S. ebulus leaves and flowers extracted in methanol and water. The crude extracts, phenolic compounds, and amino acids isolated were tested as larvicides against the fourth-instar larvae of Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae). To understand their mode of action, we evaluated the in vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor effect of the crude extracts on the two mosquito larvae through a colorimetric method. Furthermore, the deterrent effect of the crude extracts against ovipositing Ae. albopictus females was assessed in the open field. Twelve phenylpropanoids and fourteen amino acids were detected in the extracts, with a prevalence of hydroxycinnamic acids and nonaromatic amino acids. The most toxic compound to Ae. albopictus larvae after 24 h was gallic acid, followed by the crude S. ebulus leaf extract; on Cx. pipiens, it was the crude flower extract. The AChE test showed higher inhibition on both mosquito species exerted by the leaf extract if compared to the flower extract, and it also deterred oviposition by Ae. albopictus females starting from the third day. The results indicated that vegetal extracts could effectively help in the integrated vector management of mosquitoes.

The mosquito Aedes albopictus is a vector of several harmful viruses, necessitating the development of safer and more sustainable repellents than DEET. This study evaluated the potential of plant-based EOs extracted via steam distillation from Aloysia citrodora and Bursera graveolens plants harvested in Ecuador. A. citrodora EO exhibited a high sensory pleasantness with a citral-like aroma, while B. graveolens EO had lower sensory appeal due to off-flavors. At 200 µL L⁻¹, B. graveolens EO demonstrated strong ovideterrent activity, reducing egg laying by 64%, whereas A. citrodora EO displayed the highest larvicidal activity with an LC₅₀ value of 88.54 µL L⁻¹. Both EOs, applied at 0.20 µL cm⁻² on human skin, provided comparable repellency for over 45 min. The RD₅₀ values were 0.104 µL cm⁻² for A. citrodora EO and 0.136 µL cm⁻² for B. graveolens EO. When compared to DEET at 0.04 µL cm⁻², no significant differences in repellency were observed within the first 15 min post-application. These findings suggest that both EOs are effective alternatives to synthetic repellents, and A. citrodora EO emerges as a promising candidate due to its superior sensory attributes and larvicidal activity.