Insecticidal activities of Cunninghamia konishii Hayata against Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

BACKGROUND: Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), is a major urban pests in many countries throughout the world. In an attempt to find natural products that could be employed in the effective and environmentally friendly control of the termite, this study investigates, for the first time, the insecticidal activities of the wood and leaf essential oils and ethanolic extracts from Cunninghamia konishii Hayata against C. formosanus according to direct contact application. RESULTS: Wood and leaf essential oils and wood ethanolic extract showed the excellent antitermitic activities. Among the four fractions of wood ethanolic extract, the hexane-soluble fraction showed the strongest antitermitic activities. In addition, beta-elemol and alpha-cadinol showed excellent inhibitory action against C. formosanus. CONCLUSION: The results clearly reveal that the wood and leaf essential oils and ethanolic extract from C. konishii, and their effective constituents, served as potential, eco-friendly termite-control agents. (C) 2013 Society of Chemical Industry