Toxicity and Oviposition Deterrence and Repellency of<i>Mentha pulegium</i>(Lamiacaeae) Essential Oils against<i>Tetranychus urticae</i>Koch (Teteranychidae)

Abstract

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, one of the major pests of various agricultural plants, causes many problems on agricultural, horticultural and ornamental plants. In recent years, using plant-derived compounds such as essential oils and extracts was attended for their insecticidal and acaricidal properties. Mentha pulegium is a native plant of temperate Asia, was identified as an acaricidal plant for the first time in this study. The impact of essential oil of this plant on fumigant toxicity, LT50, oviposition deterrent activity and repellency against Tetranychus urticae was studied at different concentrations. The results stated that M. pulegium oils had high toxicity on eggs and adults of two-spotted spider mite (LC50 was 2.57 and 2.25 μL L−1 for eggs and adults, respectively). In addition, all tested concentrations had oviposition deterrent activity and repellency on adults of this mite.