Fumigant Toxicity and Nymph Production Deterrence Effect of Five Essential Oils on Adults of the Cabbage Aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L. (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L. is one of the most important pests of Brassicaceae family. Plant essential oils contain compounds that showed ovicidial, repellency (anti-feeding), unproductive and toxic effects on insects. In this research, insecticial activity and nymph production deterrent of five essential oils was studied on the cabbage aphid in the laboratory conditions under 25 +/- 2 degrees C, 65 +/- 5% RH and 16L:8D photoperiods. Mortality was evaluated at six different concentrations that ranging from 0.71 to 226.67 L/L air, and with 6 replications at the interim of 24 hours. The results showed that by increasing dose and time, mortality rate was also increased. The highest and the lowest mortality rate were recorded for Elettaria cardamomum and Citrus sinensis, respectively. Also the highest deterrence percentage is related to LC10 for E. cardamomum and the lowest belonged to LC10 for C. sinensis and Cinnamomum zeylanicum. It can be concluded that essential oil of E. cardamomum is an appropriate mix and can be used for control of the cabbage aphid in integrated pest management methods.