Insecticidal and feeding deterrent activities of essential oils in the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Ten essential oils were tested against the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni larvae for contact, residual and fumigant toxicities and feeding deterrent effects. Against third instar T. ni, Syzygium aromaticum (LD50 = 47.8 nu g/larva), Thymus vulgaris (LD50 = 52.0 mu g/larva) (the two positive controls) and Cinnamomum glanduliferum (LD50 = 76.0 mu g/larva) were the most toxic via topical application. Litsea pungens (LD50 = 87.1 mu g/larva), Ilex purpurea (LD50 = 94.0 mu g/larva), Cinnamomum cassia (LD50 = 101.5 mu g/larva) and Litsea cubeba (LD50 = 112.4 mu g/larva) oils were equitoxic. Thymus vulgaris (LC50 = 4.8 mg/ml) and S. aromaticum (LC50 = 6.0 mg/ml) oils were the most toxic in residual bioassays. Cymbopogon citratus (LC50 = 7.7 mg/ml) and C. cassia (LC50 = 8.5 mg/ml) oils were equitoxic followed by Cymbopogon nardus (LC50 = 10.1 mg/ml) in this bioassay. The remaining five oils showed little or no residual effects. In a fumigation bioassay, L. cubeba (LC50 = 16.5 mu l/l) and I. purpurea (LC50 = 22.2 mu l/l) oils were the most toxic. Cinnamomum glanduliferum (LC50 = 29.7 mu l/l) and Sabina vulgaris (LC50 = 31.2 mu l/l) oils were equitoxic. Interestingly, S. aromaticum did not exhibit any fumigant toxicity. Cymbopogon citratus, C. nardus and C. cassia strongly deterred feeding by third instar T. ni (DC50s = 26.9, 33.8 and 39.6 mu g/cm2, respectively) in a leaf disc choice bioassay. The different responses of T. ni larvae to the oils in different bioassays suggest that these essential oils exhibit different modes of action. Based on their comparable efficacy with essential oils already used as active ingredients in many commercial insecticides (i.e. clove oil and thyme oil), some of these essential oils may have potential as botanical insecticides against T. ni.