Now a days, extensive researches are performed on plant material in order to achive a safe and effective alternative to chemical insecticides for pest control. Effects of essential oils of Cuminum cyminum and Artemisia dracunculus were tested against first instar larvae, egg hatching and oviposition rate of Rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae). Experiment was carried out at 27 ± 2 ˚C and 60 ± 5% R. H. under dark condition adopting a complete randomized block design. For each essential oil, six concentrations with six replications were tested. Increasing the essential oil concentration increased the effects of essential oils on eggs; first instar larvae and oviposition rate. The maximum concentration of essential oils (0.56 µl/cm3 ) of C. cyminum and A. dracunculus caused, 100 and 95.5% mortality of eggs and 100 and 96.66% mortality of first instar larvae, respectively.All the three tested plant essential oils reduced the oviposition rate of adults significantly. The highest concentration (0.37 µl/cm3 ) of essential oils of C. cyminum and A. dracunculus lead to oviposition deterrency, with a deterrence of 100 and 98.3%, respectively. LC50 values indicated that essential oil of C. cyminum with 0.048 and 0.041 µl/cm3 against eggs and first instar larvae was more effective than the essential oil of A. dracunculus. It was found that plant essential oils particulary C. cyminum could be used as either a safe pesticide or model for new synthetic pesticides to control store pests.
