The toxicity of Melissa officinalis L. essential oil and its formulation (Melissacide) were evaluated against eggs and females of two predatory phytoseiid mites, Typhlodromips swirskii (Athias Henriot) and Neoseiulus barkeri (Hughes), using direct spray. Results indicate that both tested materials were potent on predatory females than egg stage. Typhlodromips swirskii was proved to be more sensitive to the oil and formulation than N. barkeri.
Females mortality were (62-100%) in T. swirskii, and (46-69%) in N. barkeri, when both predatory mites were sprayed with LC50 and LC90 of the oil and Melissacide reported on Tetranychus urticae Koch. Females of both predators were suffered from reduction in food consumption when sprayed with two sublethal concentrations of Melissacide, while insignificant differences reported in daily number of eggs deposited by females of T. swirskii, when sprayed with its LC25 value of Melissacide and control.
Abbott, W. S. (1925): A method of computing the effectiveness of an insecticide. J. Econ. Entomol. 18, 265–267.
Amer, S. A. A. and Momen, F. M. (2002): Effect of some essential oils on the predacious mite Amblyseius swirskii A. H. (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Acta Phytopathol. et Entomol. Hung. 37, 281–286.
Amer, S. A. A. and Momen, F. M. (2005): Effect of French lavender essential oil on some predacious mites of the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Acta Phytopathol. et Entomol. Hung. 40, 409–415.
Finney, D. J. (1971): Probit Analysis. Cambridge University Press, London, pp. 1–318.
Hansen, L. S. (1988): Control of Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on glasshouse cucumber using large introductions of predatory mite Amblyseius barkeri (Acarina: Phytoseiidae). Entomophaga 33, 33–42.
Hassan, S. A. (1985): Standard method to test the side effects of pesticides on natural enemies of insect and mites developed by the IOBC/WPRS working group “Pesticides and Beneficial organisms”. Eppo Bulletin 15, 214–255.
Hoy, M. A. and Ouyang, Y. L. (1986): Selectivity of the acaricides clofentezine and hexythiazox to the predator Metaseiulus occidentalis (Nesbitt) (Acari: Phytoseiidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 79, 1377–1380.
Kim, S. S. and Seo, S. G. (2001): Relative toxicity of some acaricides to the predatory mite, Amblyseius womersleyi and the two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Phytoseiidae, Tetranychidae). Appl. Entomol. Zool. 36, 509–514.
Magouz, R. I. E. and Saadoon, S. E. (2005): Effect of some environmentally safe compounds on Tetranychus cucurbitacearum (Sayed) under laboratory and field conditions. J. Agri. Res., Tanta University 31, 293–304.
McMurtry, J. A., de Moraes, G. J. and Sourassou, N. F. (2013): Revision of the life styles of phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and implications for biological control strategies. Sys. Appl. Acarol. 184, 297–320.
Momen, F. M. (1995): Feeding, development and reproduction of Amblyseius barkeri (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) on various kinds of food substances. Acarologia 36, 101–105.
Momen, F. M. and Amer, S. A. A. (1994): Effect of some foliar extracts on the predatory mite Amblyseius barkeri (Acarina: Phytoseiidae). Acarologia 35, 223–228.
Momen, F. M. and Amer, S. A. A. (1999): Effect of rosemary and sweet marjoram on three predacious mites of the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Acta Phytopathol. et Entomol. Hung. 34, 355–361.
Momen, F. M. and Amer, S. A. A. (2003): Influence of the sweet basil, Ocimum basilicum L. on some predacious mites of the family Phytoseiidae. Acta Phytopathol. et Entomol. Hung. 38, 137–143.
Momen, F. M. and El-Sawy, S. A. (1993): Biology and feeding behaviour of the predatory mite, Amblyseius swirskii (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Acarologia 34, 199–204.
Momen, F. M. and El-Borolossy, M. E. (1999): Suitability of the citrus brown mite, Eutetranychus orientalis as prey for nine species of phytoseiid mites (Acari: Tetranychidae: Phytoseiidae). Acarologia 40, 19–30.
Momen, F. M., Amer, S. A. A. and Refaat, A. M. (2001): Influence of mint and peppermint on Tetranychus urticae and some predacious mites of the family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Tetranychidae: Phytoseiidae). Acta Phytopathol. et Entomol. Hung. 36, 143–153.
Momen, F. M., Abdel Rahman, H. A., Samour, E. A., Aly, S. M. and Fahim, S. F. (2014): Acaricidal activity of Melissa officinalis oil and its formulation on Tetranychus urticae and the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Tetranychidae and Phytoseiidae). Acta Phytopathol. et Entomol. Hung. 49, 95–115.
Overmeer, W. P. J. and van Zon, A. G. (1982): A standard method for testing the side effects of pesticides on the predacious mite Amblyseius potentillae (Acarina: Phytoseiidae). Entomophaga 27, 357–364.
Rhodes, E. M. and Liburd, O. E. (2006): Evaluation of predatory mites and Acramite for control of two spotted spider mites in strawberries in north-central Flo. J. Econ. Entomol. 99, 1291–1298.
Rhodes, E. M., Liburd, O. E., Kelts, C., Rondon, S. I. and Francis, R. R. (2006): Comparison of single and combination treatments of Phytoseiulus persimilis, Neoseiulus californicus, and Acramite (bifenazate) for control of two spotted spider mites in strawberries. Exp. App. Acarol. 39, 213–225.
Samsoe-Petersen, L. (1983): Laboratory method for testing side effects of pesticides on Juvenile stage of the predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) based on detached bean leaves. Entomophaga 28, 167–178.
Sun, Y. P. (1950): Toxicity index - an improved method of comparing the relative toxicity of insecticides. J. Econ. Ent. 43, 45–53.
Tsolakis, H. and Ragusa, S. (2008): Effects of a mixture of vegetable and essential oils and fatty acid potassium salts on Tetranychus urticae and Phytoseiulus persimilis. Ecotoxicol. Envir. Saf. 70, 276–282.