Acaricidal activities of some essential and fixed oils on the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae

Abstract

A comparison was made for studying the effect of some Essential oils: Rosemary, Garlic, Jojoba and Fixed/Vegetable oils on the important mite pest, Tetranychus urticae. The sublethal concentrations of Rosemary oil (0.125%), Garlic oil (0.5%), Jojoba oil (0.25%) and Vegetable oil (0.125%) were used. Biological tests were carried out for a susceptible laboratory two-spotted spider mites strain reared under controlled conditions of 27±2°C; 60% R.H. and 16L/8D photoperiod on Sweet Potato leaves. Results showed that Garlic oil caused the highest significant decrease in the number of deposited eggs as compared to the other tested oils. All the oils used have no effects on females mite fertility. Vegetable oil greatly affected the percentage of nymphs that reached adult stages followed by Jojoba oil then Garlic oil while Rosemary had no effects on nymph's developments. Results were tabulated, analyzed, discussed and prepared to be fit in any IPM program for combating these pest animals.