Toxicity of neem and chinaberry extracts and additive effect of the essential oil Salvia mirzayanii on the date palm spider mite, Oligonychus afrasiaticus (Acari: Tetranychidae)

The date palm spider mite, Oligonychus afrasiaticus (MCG.), is one of the important pests of date palm in the south of Iran where the application of a wide range of chemical acaricides by growers adversely affects the quality of harvest. Acaricidal activity of water extracts from Azadirachta indica A. Juss and Melia azedarach L., on adult O. afrasiaticus, was evaluated and compared with a commerical formulation of A. indica (Neemgold) under laboratory condition. Additive effect of the essential oil of Salvia mirzayanii Rech. f. & Esfand on these plant extracts was studied through dipping the date fruits in the extracts. Both plants showed acaricidal activity against O. afrasiaticus and the LC50 were 0.06% (commercial Neemgold), 2.23% (A. indica) and 3.25% (M. azedarach). The additive effect of S. mirzayanii in combined application with palnt extracts against O. afrasiaticus was observed as well.