Larvicidal Effects of some Essential Oils against Larvae of the Pine Processionary Moth, T h a u m e t o p o e a p it y o c a m p a (Denis & Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae)

The pine processionary moth, T a u m e t o p o e a p it y o c a m p a (Denis & Schiffermuller) (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae) is one of the most widespread defoliators found in the forest areas of Turkey. In this study, essential oils obtained from eight different plant species ( A c h ill e a g y p s i c o l a Hub-Mor., O r i g a n u m a c u ti d e n s (Hand.-Mazz.) Ietswaart, O r i g a n u m o n it e s L., O r i g a n u m r o t u n d if o li u m Boiss., S a t u r e j a h o r t e n s i s L., S a t u r e j a s p i c i g e r a (C. Koch) Boiss., T a n a c e t u m a r g y r o p h y ll u m (C. Koch) Tvzel. and T h y m u s s i p y l e u s Boiss.) were tested against the 2nd, 3rd and 4th larval instars of T . p it y o c a m p a under laboratory conditions. Results showed that the essential oils of all tested plants had larvicidal effects on all the tested larval instars of T . p it y o c a m p a in comparison with control; mortality rates reached 100% in all thetested doses and exposure times in the positive controls