Field application of six commercial essential oils against Date Palm mite, Phyllotetranychus aegypticus (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) in Egypt

Six commercial essential oils including thyme (Thymus vulgaris), clove (Syzyium oromaticum), camphor (Cinnamomum camphora), jasmine (Jasminum officinale), banana (Musa spp.) and spearmint (Mentho spicata) were evaluated in field application against the date palm mite, Phyllotetranychus aegypticus Sayed in eight successive months, April to November 2018. All the essential oils had toxic effects on P. aegypticus. Thymus vulgaris (Lamiaceae) and S. aromaticum (Myrtaceae) showed relatively higher levels of toxicity when compared to J. officinale (Oleaceae) and Musa spp. (Musaceae) as evident through their lower effective values. However, toxicity levels exhibited by the other two oil samples, M. spicata (Lamiaceae) and C. camphora (Lauraceae) were also found enticing, as the toxicity levels of these oils were found comparatively lower. During spring period, no significant difference was found among spearmint, jasmine, banana, camphor and clove, but there was a significant difference between thyme and all other oils. During summer, there was no significant difference between “thyme and clove oils” and “camphor and spearmint”due to high temperature’s effect on the components of oils. During autumn, thyme and clove oils possessed the highest toxicity against P. aegypticus.