REPELLENCY AND TOXICITY EFFECT OF PLANT EXTRACT FROM Francoeria crispa (Forssk) AGAINST Eutetranychus orientalis (Klein) (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Laboratory bioassays were conducted to evaluate the activity of plant extract Francoeria crispa (Forssk) (Family Compositae) against the citrus brown mite, Eutetranychus orientalis (Klein). Ethyl acetate was tested for preparing the crude extract of F. crispa. The extract was tested for its toxicity against eggs and adult females of the mite pest E. orientalis. Ethyl acetate extract of F. crispa was affected the behavior, toxicity and fecundity of females under laboratory conditions. The extract had similar toxic effects on egg stage and adult females of E. orientalis (LC_50 = 0.00050 g / ml), respectively. Leaf discs treated with increasing concentrations of ethyl acetate extract of F. crispa showed a high percentage of repellency (97.45%), respectively. Treated females with LC_50 concentration of ethyl acetate extract showed a higher remarkable percentage of mortality as well as a reduction in the total number of eggs laid during 7 days. Ten isolated fractions of ethyl acetate crude extract from F. crispa were detected. Results clearly indicate that the isolate number (10) was the most toxic isolate on eggs and females of E. orientalis (LC_50 =0.00014 and 0.000125 g / ml), respectively.