Comparison of the toxicity of three botanical extracts on the second nymph of the citrus mealybug Planococcus citri (Risso) under nursery and laboratory conditions

Botanical insecticides play an important role in sustainable agriculture. The effect of Tondexir (pepper extract), Sirinol (garlic extract)and Palizin (eucalyptus extract) on Citrus Mealybug (CM) Planococcus citri (Risso) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) and Coccinellid Predator (CP) Cryptoleamus montrouzieri was investigated. Citrus Mealybug was reared on Butternut pumpkin (2-3 kg). Factorial experimental design with random blocks with six replicates was used for each botanical insecticide under nursery conditions. Each toxin was tested separately and CM mortality was recorded at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after treatment. Tondexir (3000 ppm) resulted in the highest CM mortality (90.96±2.93%), followed by Palizin (3000 ppm) (89.16±1.92%) and Sirinol (3500 ppm) (87.11±1.11%) 96 h after treatment. Adult emergence was prevented by Tondexir (3000 ppm), Palizin (3000 ppm) and Sirinol (3500 ppm). Among three botanical insecticides, the least LC50 was obtained by Palizin with 811.297 ppm. There were no toxic effects due to the use of the above mentioned botanical pesticides on any of the Coccinellid Predator (CP) Cryptoleamus montrazieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) stages.