Acaricidal effects of the essential oils obtained from different plants on carmine spider mite (Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval) (Acari: Tetranychidae) adults

Aims: In this study, the toxic effects of the essential oils obtained from Artemisia dracunculus L., Satureja hortensis L., Thymbra spicata L., Tanacetum argyrophyllum (C. Koch) and Tanacetum balsamita L. plant species on carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisd.) (Acari: Tetranychidae) adults were investigated. Methods and Results: The tests were performed in laboratory conditions (26±1 oC temperature, %65±5 relative humidity). After the treatment 24 h, the lowest mortality rate was determined to be 21.3% in the 5 μL/petri dose of A. dracunculus essential oil while the highest mortality rate was found in the 20 μL/petri dose of T. balsamita essential oil as 56.0%. The lowest mortality rates after 48, 72 and 96 h of the treatment were determined in the 5 μL/petri dose of A. dracunculus oil as 38.6%, 58.6% and 62.6%, the highest mortality rates were recorded in the 20 μL/petri dose essential oils of T. balsamita and T. argyrophyllum as 84.0%, 98.6% and 100%, respectively. Dichlorvos as positive control and Ethanol+Steril water as negative control were used. In addition to LD values of the essential oils were estimated. The highest toxicity was found for S. dracunculus oil as 0,939 while the lowest toxicity was T. spicata oil as 13.609. Conclusions: As general, in comparison essential oils in all times and doses, the highest mortality rates (from 36% to 100%) were determined for essential oil of T. argyrophyllum against T. cinnabarinus. Significance and Impact of the Study: These results showed that the tested essential oils could be used as potential control agents for T. cinnabarinus adults