Larvicidal effects of some essential oils against larvae of the Pine processionary moth, thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis & Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae)

Abstract

The pine processionary moth, Taumetopoea pityocampa (Denis & Schiffermuller) (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae) is one of the most widespread defoliators found in the forest areas of Turkey. In this study, essential oils obtained from eight different plant species (Achillea gypsicola Hub-Mor., Origanum acutidens (Hand.-Mazz.) Ietswaart, Origanum onites L., Origanum rotundifolium Boiss., Satureja hortensis L., Satureja spicigera (C. Koch) Boiss., Tanacetum argyrophyllum (C. Koch) Tvzel. and Thymus sipyleus Boiss.) were tested against the 2nd, 3rd and 4th larval instars of T. pityocampa under laboratory conditions. Results showed that the essential oils of all tested plants had larvicidal effects on all the tested larval instars of T. pityocampa in comparison with control; mortality rates reached 100% in all thetested doses and exposure times in the positive controls.