Comparison of the effectiveness of selected essential oils with mineral oil and spinosad on Dermanyssus gallinae

Abstract

It seems that essential oils can be a good ingredient in effective preparations againstDermanyssus gallinae. Dermanyssus affects animal health leading to financial losses and birdwelfare issues. Collected mites were treated with various essential oils in four (20, 50, 80and 100%) concentrations at a dose of 0.28 mg/cm2. The direct toxicity of the essential oils,mineral oil and spinosad to D. gallinae was tested in the laboratory. Eucalyptus oil was the mosttoxic essential oil in all concentrations to D. gallinae (87.6 - 97.6% mortality at all four concen-trations), while geranium, pine and rosemary oils showed mortality rates of 14.2 - 68.2%.High mortality after 48 hours of contact was also recorded for the oil of cloves at 80% dilution(85.1% mortality), lavender 100% (94.2% mortality). Similarly, the thyme essential oil produced83.5 - 93.2% mortality in three concentrations: 50, 80 and 100%. The mineral oil was the least effective oil against mites. Spinosad showed high effectiveness against D. gallinae.