Toxicity and repellency of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) (Lamiaceae) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) (Lamiaceae) extracts to Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor, 1954) and Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot, 1957 (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

In this study the toxicity and repellency of sage and rosemary extracts to two important predator mites were examined. In the toxicity experiments, leaf disc-spray tower method was used with 1, 3, 6 and 12% extract concentrations applied to egg, immature stage and adult stages of the predatory mites. All concentrations of plant extracts and control experiments were conducted with ten replicates with ten individuals in each replicate. The experiments include one control and four concentrations of each extract. For repellency experiments, 0.1, 1, 5 and 10 ml/L concentrations of plant extracts were used. In the toxicity experiments, the greatest effects of the sage and rosemary extracts were 33.3% and 33.3% toxicity to Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor, 1954) adults and 62.5% and 38.4% to Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot, 1957 (Acari: Phytoseiidae) adults, respectively. In the repellency experiments, the greatest effects of the sage and rosemary extracts were 43.7% and 77.7% repellency to N. californicus adults and 50.1% and 88.8% for P. persimilis adults, respectively. This study indicates the potential to use of sage extract in integrated pest management programs incorporating N. californicus and rosemary against P. persimilis