Effect of medicinal plants against common pistachio psyllid under laboratory conditions

Agonoscena pistaciae </em>Burckhardt and Lauterer (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) is the most important key pest of pistachio trees in Iran. Chemical control is the most effective and accessible method to control this pest. But, the environmental problems caused by the overuse of the synthetic insecticide have been a source of concern in recent years. Botanical insecticides are recognized as proper alternatives to conventional insecticides. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the toxicity of extracts from Achillea millefolium</em> L. (Asteraceae) and Carum copticum</em> L. (Apiaceae) against 5th</sup> instar nymphs of common pistachio psyllid, Agonoscena pistaciae </em>Burckhardt and Lauterer (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) under laboratory conditions..</em> Bioassay was carried out using a dipping technique. Probit analysis of concentration-mortality data was conducted to estimate the LC50</sub> value. The results showed that A</em>. millefolium</em> and C. copticum</em> extracts were effective on A. pistaciae.</em> C. copticum</em> with an LC50</sub> value of 749.95 mL/L was more toxic than A</em>. millefolium</em> (914.33 mL/L) on 5th</sup> instar nymphs of A. pistaciae</em>. But, according to the LC50</sub> values, no significant differences were observed between A</em>. millefolium</em> and C. copticum</em> 24 h post-treatment. Our results suggest that the extracts of A</em>. millefolium</em> and C. copticum</em> are suitable compounds to control of A. pistaciae</em>