Bioefficacy of essential oils emulsion and predatory mite, Euseius scutalis (Athias-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) for the management of citrus brown mite, Eutetranychus orientalis (Klein) (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Abstract

The citrus brown mite, Eutetranychus orientalis (Klein), is a significant pest that is widely distributed in different agricultural systems. It causes significant damage to field crops and fruit trees. The most common method of control is the use of chemical acaricides. However, the extensive use of such chemicals developed resistance in addition to environmental and health hazards. Plant-derived acaricides might therefore be an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic ones in order to increase agricultural production efficiency and to protect consumer health. Following this prospective, the present study was aimed to evaluate the toxic effects of anise (Pimpinella anisum), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), clove (Eugenia caryophyllus), and garlic (Allium sativum) essential oils (EO) against the eggs and adult’s females of E. orentalis under laboratory conditions. Additionally, Euseius scutalis, a predator mite, was investigated as a bioagent to control E. orientalis under field conditions. GC-MS was used to assess the chemical components of the tested EOs. The results showed that anethole; 9, 12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z); camphor; octatriacontyl pentafluoropropiona; and eugenol, were the major components for anise, rosemary eucalyptus, garlic, and cloves, respectively. Comparably, anise has been shown to be the most effective EO against E. orentalis eggs and adults as it exhibited a high level of efficiency and required the lowest concentration to reach the LC50. Additionally, the three Euseius scutalis release rates significantly reduced the Eutetranychus orientalis population. Ten individuals /seedlings in particular induced the highest reduction (84.95%). Based on our findings, we suggest using Euseius scutalis release and anise essential oil as alternative strategies to control of E. orentalis.