Insecticidal Activities of Mentha pulegium L., and Pistacia lentiscus L., Essential Oils against Two Citrus Aphids Aphis spiraecola Patch and Aphis gossypii Glover

Abstract

Essential oils (EOs) of Mentha pulegium L., (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) and Pistacia lentiscus L., (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae) were studied for their insecticidal activities against the spirae aphid Aphis spiraecola Patch and the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii Glover (Both Hemiptera: Aphididae). The results showed that both EOs were toxic to both aphid species. The mortality rates caused by M. pulegium and P. lentiscus EOs are 98 % and 52 %, respectively for A. spiraecola and 94 % and 70 %, respectively for A. gossypii. The LC₅₀ of M. pulegium and P. lentiscus EOs applied to A. spiraecola were 478 and 759 ppm, respectively. The LC₅₀ of M. pulegium and P. lentiscus EOs applied to A. gossypii were 547 and 490 ppm, respectively. Interestingly, there are no differences between toxicity of both EOs and that of the chemical insecticide imidacloprid used as positive control which led to aphid’s mortality between 42 and 56 %. This suggests that both EOs can substitute chemicals for a better control of A. spiraecola and A. gossypii.

Key words:

• Contact toxicity
• Aphis spiraecola
• Aphis gossypii
• Mentha pulegium
• Pistacia lentiscus