Investigation of Garlic Essential Oils for Biological Control of Agrotis Ipsilon (Hufnagel) along with Combination with Mint, Cumin, Caraway and Parsley Essential Oils

Abstract

Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) also known as the black cutworm, is one of the most harmful insect pests that attack various legume crops. On the insect's third larval instar, the effects of various quantities of Garlic essential oils were assessed. Biological activity of essential oil of Garlic caused starvation and antifeedant effects in larvae fed on the treatment diet, as well as stomach and contact toxicity. Garlic oil, whose LC₅₀ ranged from 0.006 to 0.019% and was dangerous as a contact poison than a stomach poison, was the most effective treatment as plant essential oil treatment. The mixture of the oils had a potentiating impact on one another, making them more toxic. Garlic and mint made up the promising poisonous concoction. The tested oils' sub-lethal concentrations produced an impressively notable increase in larval and pupal duration with a delay in their development and an increase in mortality, a decrease in larval and pupal weight, and an increase in the percent of malformation for both the resulting pupae and adults. From this point of view, it is possible to suggest using the garlic plant essential oils to control the black cutworm on their hosts by spraying them as emulsions or as toxic baits alternatives to chemical pesticides. It is also possible to mix oils in the concentration range to increase their toxicity and reduce the development of insect resistance as a biological control method throughout the integrated pest control programme.