Abstract

The red mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acarina: Tetranychidae), poses a threat to the food security of populations in several countries because it damages several crops such tomatoes, eggplant, cucumber, melon, strawberries, ornamental plants and fruits. As an alternative to chemical acaricides, biological control using plant extracts is one of the most promising sustainable approaches adopted to limit damages caused by T. urticae. A survey of the population of mites on eggplant in greenhouse was done. The acaricidal activity of aqueous extract (10, 20, 30 and 40%) and essential oil (1, 2, 3 and 4%) of Eucalyptus globulus L. against T.urticae on eggplant was studied in a laboratory and greenhouse. The first infestation off eggplant by T. urticae was registered at February 2021, maximum infestation rate (58.8±6.11%) was at June/2021, maximum number of T. urticae egg (5.56±0.36/cm² eggplant leaf) and maximum number of mobile stage (4.22±0.20/cm2 on eggplant leaf) were at June/2021. The Correct efficacy decreases significantly with decreasing concentrations of E. globulus aqueous extract and essential oil. The highest correct efficacies (67.02±3.09% in the laboratory) and (63.72±5.70% in the greenhouse) were obtained with the higher concentration (40%) of aqueous extract of E. globulus. Similarly, the highest correct efficacies (69.98±3.79%) in the laboratory and (67.66±4.94) in the greenhouse were registered with a higher concentration (4%) of E. globulus essential oil. Both the aqueous extract and essential oil of E. globulus are effective in controlling T. urticae and can be a natural alternative to hazardous synthetic acaricides in any IPM program against the two-spotted red mite.