Insecticidal activity of essential oils from Artemisia absinthium L., Artemisia dracunculus L. and Achillea millefolium L. against Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

The potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) is one of the important pests of solanaceous plants, especially potato Solanum tuberosum L., in many temperate areas of the world including Iran. In this study, essential oils were extracted from Artemisia absinthium L., Achillea millefolium L. and Artemisia dracunculus L. using Clevenger apparatus. One-day-old eggs were treated by sublethal concentrations (LC30) of essential oils, and their effects were studied on reproductive parameters and population growth parameters. Probit analysis of ovicidal effects showed that LC50 values for A. absinthium, A. millefolium and A. dracunculuswere 2.60, 2.36 and 1.08 µl/l air, respectively. The percentage of larval penetration into potato tubers was lower than untreated control. The values of intrinsic rate of increase (rm) in control and treatments of A. absinthium, A. millefolium and A. dracunculus were 0.107, 0.079, 0.081 and 0.087 day-1, respectively. The results of this study showed that tested essential oils have a good potential to protect stored potatoes from P. operculella infestation.