A Study on the Effect of Four Plant Oils on the Response of Cowpea Leafhopper Empoasca fabae and Its Natural Enemy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56727/NTU-JAVS.2026.6.2.150-161Abstract
The study investigated the effect of four plant essential oils (lavender, Peppermint, thyme, and dill) on the behavioral response of the cowpea leafhopper Empoasca fabae, using Two different concentrations of oil (one drop and two drops), over various time intervals (10, 15, and 20 minutes). Results showed that peppermint oil exhibited the strongest repellent effect, recording the lowest number of attracted leafhoppers with a mean of (1.0 ± 7) insect at the one-drop dosage, and no insects were attracted at the two-drop dosage (0.0 ± 0). In contrast, lavender oil displayed an attractant effect rather than a repellent one, with a high number of attracted insects recorded, reaching a mean of (3.21 ± 16.3) insect for one drop, and (1.0 ± 7) insect for two drops. Dill oil showed no repellent effect. Both peppermint and lavender oils demonstrated the highest attractiveness to predatory insects across all tested time intervals. Lavender oil recorded the highest attraction mean for predators at 20 minutes post-treatment (0.33 ± 9.7) insect, while peppermint oil reached a maximum of (0.00 ± 10) insect. Thyme oil exhibited moderate attractiveness with (0.67 ± 9.3) insect, whereas dill oil had the lowest attraction to the predatory insect. The essential oils exhibited variable effects; peppermint showed the strongest repellent action, while lavender was the most attractive.
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