The influence of the herb sage and wormwood on the migrational activityof saw-toothed grain beetles Oryzaephilus surinamensis L. (Coleoptera, Cucujidae) populations

Abstract: The object of this study was the saw-toothed grain beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis(L.) The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the sage (Salvia officinalis L.) andwormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) herbs on migration activity and mortality in saw-toothedgrain beetle populations. The experiments were conducted in laboratory conditions in athermostat, the temperature of 30°C and 70 ± 5% relative humidity (r. h.). In the experiments aset of culture vessels was used which enabled adult insects to migrate from the orginalpopulation. The herbs were powdered and added to oat flakes in the proportion of 0.5g herbs to40g oat flakes. The population of the saw-toothed grain beetles was controlled monthly for aperiod of five months in order to check if used the plants restrict the development and at the sametime reduce the size of this pest. The results obtained allow for the conclusion that forO. surinamensis the wormwood is a repellent, because it causes a very considerable migration ofinsects from food to which this plant has been added. Saw-toothed grain beetles do not invade oatflakes to which some wormwood has been added. The wormwood has a toxic effect on theinsects, resulting in a high mortality rate among them. The sage neither limits proliferation in theO. surinamensis population nor increases the mortality rate.