Utilization of synthetic acaricides causes negative side-effects on nontarget organisms and environment and most of the mite species such as two spotted spider mite,Tetranychus urticaeKoch, are becoming resistant to these chemicals. In the present study, essential oils of fennel,Foeniculum vulgareMill., and lavender,Lavandula angustifoliaMiller, were hydrodistilled using Clevenger apparatus and chemical composition of these oils was analyzed by GC-MS. Anethole (46.73%), limonene (13.65%), andα-fenchone (8.27%) in the fennel essential oil and linalool (28.63%), 1,8-cineole (18.65%), and 1-borneol (15.94%) in the lavender essential oil were found as main components. Contact and fumigant toxicity of essential oils was assessed against adult females ofT. urticaeafter 24 h exposure time. The essential oils revealed strong toxicity in both contact and fumigant bioassays and the activity dependeds on essential oil concentrations. Lethal concentration 50% for the population of mite (LC50) was found as 0.557% (0.445–0.716) and 0.792% (0.598–1.091) in the contact toxicity and 1.876 μL/L air (1.786–1.982) and 1.971 μL/L air (1.628–2.478) in the fumigant toxicity for fennel and lavender oils, respectively. Results indicated thatF. vulgareandL. angustifoliaessential oils might be useful for managing of two spotted spider mite,T. urticae.
Chemical composition and larvicidal activity of Algerian Foeniculum vulgare seed essential oil
