OVICIDAL AND ANTI-OVIPOSITIONAL ACTIVITIES OF SOME PLANT EXTRACTS ON THE EURYGASTER MAURA L. (HETEROPTERA: SCUTELLARIDAE

The Sunn pest, Eurygaster maura L. (Heteroptera: Scutellaridae) is the most economically important pest of wheat and other graminae in Middle Anatolia, Southeast Anatolia and Thrace in Turkey. In this study, the methanol extracts of Foeniculum vulgare Miller (Umbelliferae), Lavandula angustifolia Miller (Lamiaceae), Cuminum cyminum L. (Umbelliferae), Thymus vulgaris L. (Lamiaceae), Achillea millefolium L. (Asteraceae), Artemisia absinthium L. (Asteraceae), Hypericum perforatum L. (Hypericaceae) and Pimpinella anisum L. (Umbelliferae) were tested for ovicidal and anti-ovipositional properties against E. maura L. under laboratory condititons. Extracts were applied in 2.5%, 5% and 10% (w/w) concentrations. One-to three-day old eggs were dipped in to treatments. As a result, except A. millefolium and T. vulgaris, the other extracts decreased hatching of treated eggs in comparison with control. According to the extract concentrations the percentage of unhatching egg masses increased mostly. At a concentration of 10%, F. vulgare extract was the most effective with the ratio of 76.22% egg mortality followed by P. anisum and C. cyminum (53.93% and 51.74% respectively). Achillea millefolium extract was the most active in terms of anti-ovipositional effect with result of 40.28 percent in comparison to other extracts. These results showed that A. millefolium, F. vulgare, P. anisum and C. cyminum extracts may be used in integrated sunn pest management, however should be evaluated for field efficacy.