Huseyin Cetin

A study of the larvicidal activity of Origanum (Labiatae) species from southwest Turkey

ABSTRACT The insecticidal activity of essential oils isolated from two species of Origanum (Origanum onites L. and Origanum minutiflorum (O. Schwarz and P.H. Davis) (Labiate)) was investigated against 3rd and 4th instar larvae of the mosquito, Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae). The LC50 and LC90 values were 24.8 and 61.3 ppm, and 73.8 and 118.9 ppm, respectively. This activity was attributed to the carvacrol, the major constituent of these oils.

Acaricidal activity of Satureja thymbra L. essential oil and its major components, carvacrol and γ-terpinene against adult Hyalomma marginatum (Acari: Ixodidae)

The acaricidal activity of a volatile essential oil hydrodistillate of Satureja thymbra L. (Lamiaceae) and its major constituents, carvacrol and gamma-terpinene, were evaluated against field-collected unfed adult Hyalomma marginatum. The distillate was tested against this tick species at 5, 10, 20, and 40 microL/L while the two major components were each tested at 10 microL/L. Generally, tick mortality to the S. thymbra distillate increased with concentration and exposure time. Ticks exposed to vapors from cotton wicks containing at least 40 microL/L resulted in complete (100%) mortality at 3h. The lower concentrations provided >or=90% mortality at 3h post treatment with complete mortality at 24h. Knockdown was observed only in the carvacrol and gamma-terpinene treatments. Ticks exposed to carvacrol-treated wicks produced >93% knockdown at 3h but at 24h approximately 57% were dead. The gamma-terpinene treatment produced >or=90% knockdown at 105 min through 3h but at 24h only about 87% of the ticks were dead.

Acaricidal effects of the essential oil of Origanum minutiflorum (Lamiaceae) against Rhipicephalus turanicus (Acari: Ixodidae)

The acaricidal effects of the volatile essential oil Origanum minutiflorum O. Schwarz & P.H. Davis (Lamiaceae) against adult Rhipicephalus turanicus was evaluated at a variety of concentrations and exposure times. Generally tick mortality increased with concentration and exposure. Ticks exposed to vapors from cotton wicks containing at least 10mul/L resulted in complete (100%) mortality at 120min. The major constituent of essential oil obtained from the plant material of O. minutiflorum was carvacrol.

Larvicidal activity of novaluron, a chitin synthesis inhibitor, against the housefly, Musca domestica

Abstract A chitin synthesis inhibitor, novaluron, was evaluated under laboratory conditions for its larvicidal activity against a field population of the housefly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), by feeding and dipping methods. The concentrations used were 1, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 mg a.i./kg in both methods. The product caused >80% larval mortality at 10 and 20 mg a.i./kg. Of the two methods, feeding was more effective for larvicidal activity at doses above 2.5 mg a.i./kg. After 72 hours, the LC50 and LC90 values were 1.66 and 8.25 mg a.i./kg, respectively, with the feeding method; and 2.72 and 17.88 mg a.i./kg, respectively, using the dipping method. The results showed that the product provided good control of housefly larvae and would greatly reduce adult emergence.

Control of the mushroom phorid fly, Megaselia halterata (Wood), with plant extracts

BACKGROUND The most serious insect pest problems affecting the cultivation of mushroom [Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach] in Turkey are mushroom flies (sciarids, cecids and phorids). Mushroom phorid fly, Megaselia halterata (Wood), is the most common insect pest species during April-October. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential for eight botanical materials (two commercial neem-based products and six hot-water plant extracts) to control M. halterata populations in three successive growing periods. RESULTS Treatment efficacy was evaluated by assessing adult emergence and sporophore damage rates compared with that of a standard insecticide, chlorpyrifos-ethyl (positive control). All plant extracts caused significant reductions in the mean number of emerging adults and sporophore damage rates compared with the water-treated control (negative control). Reduction in adult emergence in both neem treatments, Neemazal and Greeneem oil, was greater than that in the positive control. While Neemazal and Origanum onites L. extract had significantly lower sporophore damage rates than the positive control, there were no significant differences between the chlorpyrifos-ethyl, Greeneem oil and Pimpinella anisum L. extract treatments. CONCLUSION The results suggest that both neem products and hot-water extracts of O. onites and P. anisum may be potential alternatives to conventional pesticides for the control of mushroom phorid fly.

Efficacy of diflubenzuron, a chitin synthesis inhibitor, against Culex pipiens larvae in septic tank water.

ABSTRACT The mosquito Culex pipiens L. is an important pest in urban and suburban areas in many parts of the world. Septic tanks are the most important habitats supporting the production of this species in the city of Antalya, southwestern Turkey. Diflubenzuron, in a 25% wettable powder (Du-dim® 25 WP), and a 4% granular formulation (Du-dim® 4 G) was evaluated against late 2nd to early 3rd instars of Cx. pipiens in single-family septic tanks. Both formulations were tested at 0.01, 0.02, and 0.03 mg (AI)/liter. The results indicated that both formulations applied at the rate of 0.02 and 0.03 mg (AI)/liter achieved 100% adult inhibition, at intervals of 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after treatment. Septic tanks treated with 0.01 mg (AI)/liter WP formulation resulted in complete (100%) adult inhibition through 14 days, whereas the G formulation gave the same effect through 21 days posttreatment at this rate.

Survey of insect growth regulator (IGR) resistance in house flies (Musca domestica L.) from southwestern Turkey.

ABSTRACT: Insect growth regulators (IGRs) are currently the fastest-growing class of insecticides, and in Turkey these products represent a new approach to pest control. In recent years, several IGRs were also registered for the control of the house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), in Turkey. A field survey was conducted in the summers of 2006 and 2007 to evaluate resistance to some agriculturally and medically used IGRs on house flies from livestock farms and garbage dumps in the greenhouse production areas (Merkez, Kumluca, Manavgat, and Serik) of Antalya province (Southwestern Turkey). The results of larval feeding assay with technical diflubenzuron, methoprene, novaluron, pyripoxyfen, and triflumuron indicate that low levels (RF< 10-fold) of resistance to the IGRs exist in the house fly populations from Antalya province. Exceptions, however, were two populations, Guzoren and Toptas, from the Kumluca area which showed moderate resistance to diflubenzuron with 11.8-fold in 2006 and 13.2-fold in 2007, respectively. We found substantial variation in susceptibility of field-collected house fly populations from year to year and from product to product. We generally observed an increase in resistance at many localities sampled from 2006 to 2007. The implications of these results to the future use of IGRs for house fly control are discussed. It will be critically important to continue monitoring efforts so that appropriate steps can be taken if resistance levels start to increase.

Acaricidal activity of Origanum bilgeri P.H. Davis (Lamiaceae) essential oil and its major component, carvacrol against adults Rhipicephalus turanicus (Acari: Ixodidae)

The acaricidal activity of an essential oil obtained from aerial parts of Origanum bilgeri P.H. Davis (Lamiaceae), an endemic species in Turkey, and its major constituents, carvacrol was evaluated against unfed adults Rhipicephalus turanicus Pomerantzev (Acari: Ixodidae) collected from Kepez, Antalya. The composition of the essential oil was analyzed by GC/MS. The major compound identified in the oil was carvacrol (93.02%). Generally, tick mortalities to the O. bilgeri distillate and carvacrol increased with concentrations. O. bilgeri oil produced >83% mortality at 48h at a concentration of 0.8% and mortality was higher than 63% at a carvacrol concentration of 0.4%. Our results have shown that O. bilgeri essential oil and its major component, carvacrol, may have potential as acaricidal agents against R. turanicus.

Comparative efficacy of spinosad with conventional acaricides against hard and soft tick populations from Antalya, Turkey.

The acaricidal efficacy of ceramic tiles treated at field application rates with either spinosad (Mozkill 120 SC, 0.01 g ai/m(2)), deltamethrin (Impotek Deltamethrin EW, 0.01 g ai/m(2)), permethrin+esbiothrin (Chrysamed, 0.1 g ai/m(2)), chlorpyrifos-methyl (Chlortoks EC 50, 0.2 g ai/m(2)) or a mixture of alpha-cypermethrin/tetramethrin/piperonyl butoxide (Ecorex Alfa SE, 0.01 g ai/m(2)), against larval Rhipicephalus turanicus and Argas persicus ticks was determined in laboratory bioassays. All ticks were initially exposed to treated tiles for 15 min then removed to non-treated containers and mortality evaluated for 15 min, 1 h, 6 h, and 24 h postexposure. Generally, A. persicus proved to be the most susceptible of the two species to all treatments. The alpha-cypermethrin/tetramethrin/piperonyl butoxide mixture was the quickest acting acaricide against larval A. persicus where 100% mortality was observed 15 min postexposure. For the rest of the treatments complete mortality was obtained at 1 h except for permethrin/esbiothrin which occurred at 6 h postexposure. Complete mortality of larval R. turanicus occurred to deltamethrin and spinosad at 1 h postexposure with all acaricides providing 100% control at 6 h except permethrin/esbiothrin which only achieved 92% control through the end of the study (i.e. 24 h). Our results showed that spinosad would be a useful addition in a tick control program as an alternative for pyrethroids and organic phosphorus acaricides against both tick species.

Toxicity of essential oils extracted from Origanum onites L. and Citrus aurentium L. against the pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams.

The pine processionary moth (PPM), Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams. (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae), is an important forest pest in the Mediterranean area, additionally urticating hairs of the caterpillars of this species cause strong allergic reactions on skin of humans and animals. In the present study, essential oils extracted from aerial parts of Origanum onites L. and fruit peels of Citrus aurentium L. were tested at three doses (0.1, 0.5 and 1%) against 4th and 5th instar larvae of the pest. The results showed that the activities were concentration dependent. The LD50 and LD90 values were 0.288 and 0.926% for O. onites, 0.530 and 2.306% for C. aurentium, respectively.