Abstract:
A comparative efficacy of five essential oils (EOs) of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton),
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume), Clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.), Eucalyptus
(Eucalyptus spp.), and Jasmine (Jasminum spp.) was assessed against two-spotted spider mite
(TSSM), Tetranychus urticae. The mites were reared under laboratory conditions and oils were
procured from market. Fumigation experiment was done in a glass jar making it airtight. The
mortality of mites was recorded after 48 hours of treatment. The result showed that the most potent
fumigant was cardamom with highest LC50 values 180.57nlcm-3, 199.45 nlcm-3 and 395.36 nlcm-3 for
protonymph, deutonymph and adult respectively. Jasmine (354.05 nlcm-3), cinnamon (659.13nlcm-3)
and eucalyptus (1033.7 nlcm-3) were least effective oils for protonymh, deutonymph and adult stages
accordingly. All the oils used in the current study have a variable degree of toxicity on different
stages of TSSM life cycle. In case of all tested oils, protonymph showed 50% mortality at lower
doses(range of value was 180.57 to 354.05 nlcm-3 ) but adult needed two to three fold higher doses(
range of value was 395.36 to 1033.7 nlcm-3 ) than protonymh. The result has revealed that, all these
oils have great potentiality to be used as an acaricide in pests control program.
