Current knowledge and advances in the use of essential oils as bioinsecticides against a major pest of stored and postharvest commodities Tribolium confusum: a systematic review

Abstract

In recent years, numerous studies have focused on managing insect pests using essential oils (EOs), which are widely considered environmentally friendly and are increasingly being adopted in organic farming systems. This review aims to assess the current state of research on the use of plant EOs against the insect pest Tribolium confusum . The control of this pest mainly relies on conventional pesticides, but their use has been increasingly restricted and may face further limitations. This research was carried out in June 2025 using the following databases: Springer, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. A total of 392 articles were identified, but only 81 of them met the inclusion criteria and were selected for this review. Middle East and Africa had the largest number of studies, accounting for 41.5% and 29.3%, respectively. The literature review revealed that researchers tested the EOs of 119 plant species across 25 families, with the majority belonging to four primary families: Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, Apiaceae, Myrtaceae, and Cupressaceae. These five families are rich in active compounds such as carvacrol, pulegone, thymol, p-cymene, piperitenone oxide, carlina oxide, and α-pinene which are well-known for their repellent and insecticidal effects. The adult stage was the most frequently tested, accounting for 72% of the trials. However, greater focus should be given to the larval stage, as it causes more damage than the adult stage. It is now time to prioritize research that evaluates the effects of these EOs on insects under real-life conditions.