Comparative Study on the Acaricidal Activities of Essential Oils from Ziziphora clinopodioides, Thymus vulgaris, Rosmarinus officinalis and Lavandula angustifolia against Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval, on Cut Roses

A comparative study was made between the acaricidal activities of some essential oils: rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), lavandula (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.), thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) and ziziphora (Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam.) on the important mite pest, Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval, the carmine spider mite, oncut roses during 2010-2012. The sublethal concentrations of ziziphora oil (0.125%), thyme oil (0.5%), rosemary oil (0.25%) and lavandula oil (0.125%) were used. Biological tests were carried out for a susceptible laboratory carmine spider mite strain reared under controlled conditions of 27±2 °C; 60% R.H. and 16L:8D photoperiod on rose leaves in greenhouse. The results showed that thyme oil causes the highest significant reduction in the fecundity and fertility as compared to the other tested oils. Thyme and ziziphora oil greatly affected the number of  larvae and nymphs (for thyme oil 70.7±2.8 and 7.3±0.3, for ziziphora oil 109.1±4.7 and 17.7±1.8, respectively) that reached next biological stages. Results were tabulated, analyzed, discussed and prepared to be fit in any IPM program for combating these pest animals.