Chapter 6 - Essential Oils for Arthropod Pest Management in Agricultural Production Systems

Abstract

Essential oils are volatile compounds extracted from mostly leaves and nonwoody parts of plants. Extracted essential oils possess scent-producing compounds including monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, phenols, oxides, esters, aldehydes, and ketones. Plants use these compounds for protection from various plant-feeding arthropods (e.g., insects and mites). Modes of action of essential oils vary include neurotoxicity, regulation of insect growth, deterioration of the waxy layers of the insect cuticle, impeding digestive enzymes, and inhibition of glutathione-S-transferase. Currently, only a few essential oil-based pesticides have been commercialized for agricultural use although many essential oils have been found to be very effective as pesticides. Because essential oils are environmentally friendly they can play an important role as pesticides in integrated pest management and organic farming. In this chapter, modes of action of essential oils, essential oils for arthropod pest management, and advantages and disadvantages of essential oils as pesticides are presented and discussed.