Insecticidal and feeding deterrence activity of selected essential oils against Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the insecticide potential of essential oils (EOs) of thyme (Thymus vulgaris; Lamiaceae) and ginger (Zingiber officinale; Zingiberaceae) to control cotton leaf worm (Spodoptera littoralis; Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under the laboratory conditions. Generally, there was a positive correlation between the magnitude of the above toxic effects and the concentrations of all EOs. Ginger essential oil (GEO) showed more pronounced toxic effects followed by thyme essential oil (TEO). In addition, at the highest tested conc. of 90%, the percentage of mortality for the tested compounds were: thyme (72%) and ginger (81.67%) respectively. Also, at the highest conc. caused higher feeding deterrence (FD %) being 64.44% and 72.08% for TEO and GEO, respectively. Therefore, it concluded that GEO was more potent than TEO against S. littoralis larvae. Also, these essential oils can be an alternative for management of cotton leaf worm and its related species.