Toxicity and sublethal effects of plant essential oils on life history and detoxification enzymes activity of two-spotted spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Abstract

We studied the lethal and sublethal effects of essential oils (EOs) of Allium sativum L. and Vitex pseudo-negundo (Hausskn) on Tetranychus urticae Koch. Based on LC₅₀ concentrations, A. sativum (19.2 µL/L air) was more toxic than V. pseudo-negundo (51.9 µL/L air). To assess the sublethal effects, adult mites were exposed to the LC₁₀ and LC₃₀ of each EO. Exposure to LC₃₀ of A. sativum and V. pseudo-negundo negatively affected the development, survival, fecundity, and fertility of T. urticae F1 generation, as well as general esterase and MFO enzymes activity. These concentrations affected the detoxification enzyme activity of treated mites.

Keywords:

• Tetranychus urticae
• chemical composition
• demographic parameter
• A. sativum
• V. pseudo-negundo

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Higher Education Complex of Bam (Kerman, Iran) for cooperation by support for the experiment. Also, the authors would like to thank Dr Ehsan Borzoui for revising a draft of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).