Antifeedant activity and toxicity of some plant essential oils to Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata say (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Abstract

Essential oils of Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad, Ocimum basilicum L., Myrtus communis L., Thymus daenensis Celak, Mentha spicata L., and Eugenia caryophyllus (Sprengel) were evaluated for nutritional indices and mortality of the 4th instar larvae and adults of Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say). Relative growth rate, relative consumption rate, efficiency of conversion of ingested food and feeding deterrent index were measured. Results showed that the most efficient essential oil on the 4th instar larvae and adults was S. khuzistanica (LC50 = 23.36 and 167.96 ppm, respectively). Even if all essential oils were effective on feeding deterrence of both stages of L. decemlineata, the essential oil of S. khuzistanica was the most effective. So, these essential oils can be used as potential control agents against both stages of L. decemlineata.