Toxicity of some plant extracts to various nymphal stages of Eurygaster maura L. (Heteroptera: Scutellaridae)

In this study, the toxicity of 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 on nymphal stages of Eurygaster maura L. (Heteroptera: Scutellaridae). The results showed that the young nymphal stages were more sensitive than old nymphal stages. According to LC50 value obtained from three incubation times (24,48 and 96 h) F. vulgare and T. vulgaris appear to be the most toxic plant extracts among the tested extracts for all nymphal stages. While C. cyminum extract was the most toxic extract with LC50 value of % 3.5 at young nymphal stages, F. vulgare was the most toxic extract with LC50 value of % 7.46 at older nymphal stages after 96 h. In phytotoxicity test, phytotoxicity symptoms on plant tissue were not apparent except for T. vulgaris, P. anisum, L. angustifolia and A. absinthium extracts. These results suggest that F. vulgare, C. cyminum and T. vulgaris extracts have potential to manage the sunn pest. However, further researchs to examine toxic active compound of the extracts and field efficacy by improving right formulation should be conducted.