IMPACT OF SELECTED ESSENTIAL OILS AGAINST SPODOPTERALITTORALIS (BOISD.)

The aim of this study was to determine the potential of essential oils (EOs) of thyme (Thymusvulgaris Lamiaceae) and ginger (Zingiberofficinale Zingiberaceae) to control cotton leaf worm (Spodopteralittoralis Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)under the laboratory conditions.The nutritional indices of EO-treated S. littoralis larvae were reduced compared with the control. At the highest tested conc. of 90 % of ginger and thyme oils, CI values were significantly reduced compared with control being 1.87 and 2.02 vs 3.78 mg/day/mg, respectively. While GR values at the highest tested conc. of 90 % of ginger and thyme oils were 0.09 and 0.15 vs 0.29 % of control, respectively. Therefore, it concluded that ginger oil was more potent than thymeoil against S. littoralis larvae. Hence, these essential oils can be an alternative for management of cotton leaf worm and its related species.