The toxicity of 10 plant essential oils to adults of acaricide-susceptible, chlorfenapyr-resistant (CRT-53), fenpropathrin-resistant (FRT-53), pyridaben-resistant (PRT-53), and abamectin-resistant (ART-53) strains of Tetranychus urticae Koch and to female Neoseiulus californicus McGregor was examined using spray or vapor-phase mortality bioassays. In bioassay with the susceptible adults, strong toxicity was produced by lemon eucalyptus, peppermint, citronella Java, thyme red, caraway seed, pennyroyal, and clove leaf essential oils (LC50, 0.0193-0.0327 mg/cm3). The toxicity of these essential oils was almost identical against adults from either of the susceptible and resistant strains, even though CRT-53, FRT-53, PRT-53, and ART-53 adults exhibited high levels of resistance to chlorfenapyr [resistanc ratio (RR), >9140], fenpropathrin (RR, 94), pyridaben (RR, >390), and abamectin (RR,85), respectively. Against female N. californicus was 1.0 to 1.9 times more tolerant than T. urticae to the test essential oils. Thus, these essential oils merit further study as potential acaricides for the control of acaricide-resistant T. urticae populations as fumigants because of their lower toxicity to N. californicus.

• Jun Han(Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University)
• Byeoung-Ryeol Choi(Rural Development Administration)
• Sang-Gyeu Lee(Rural Development Administration)
• Young-Joon Ahn(WCU Biomodulation Major, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University)