Bioactivity of essential oils against cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Their Selectivity to eleven-spotted lady beetle Coccinella undecimpunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellida)..

The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is a major insect pest of vegetables such as okra. While synthetic insecticides are vastly used to control Aphis, extravagant application has led to resistant of insects and poses side effects on the Predators. Consequently, Essential oils (EOs) are of the most effective, promising alternatives to synthetic insecticides. Field and lab experiments were therefore, performed to study the impacts of some essential oils on aphids and their natural enemies. The Essential oils (EOs) used were Ginger (Zingiber officinale), rosemary, (Salvia rosmarinus), basil, (Ocimum basilicum), Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and Simmondsia chinensis against Aphis gossypii and adult of the Eleven-spotted Lady Beetle, Coccinella undecimpunctata. All Essential oils were tested at concentrations of 1%, 3%, 5% in field and 0.5%, 1.5%, 2.5% in laboratory. The results revealed that ‬ the rosemary oil considered the most potent oils among all oils tested against A. gossypii. Whereas, clove oil considered the least effective among the oils tested under laboratory and field against A. gossypii. While, the Ginger oil was the least toxic oils against C. undecimpunctata. These Essential oils gave promising sources in controlling the cotton aphid, A. gossypii and selectivity on C. undecimpunctata.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Through the results of this study, natural oils can be used to control aphids.