Efficiency of essential oils and pure compounds in the management of Plutella xylostella, Spodoptera eridania and Diaphania hyalinata

The use of essential oils and pure compounds are promising in the management of vegetable pests. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of commercial essential oils of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), salvia (Salvia sclarea), basil (Ocimum canum), citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus) and pure compounds eugenol and d-limonene and the oil extracted from ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) in the management of Diaphania hyalinata, Spodoptera eridania and Plutella xylostella. The isolated oils and compounds were applied to 2nd and 4th instar caterpillars of the pests, in the action modes contact and ingestion. Each treatment consisted of six replicates and mortality was assessed after 72 h. The experiments were performed twice for greater data reliability. The design used was a completely randomized double factorial design (products × exposure routes). The results revealed that the pure compound eugenol stood out, presenting an effect in the direct exposure on caterpillars; in the exposure via food, in turn, the pure compound d-limonene stood out, presenting mortality for all instars and pests tested, except for the 4th instar of S. eridania. Thus, the essential oils and pure compounds tested represent valuable tools with potential for integration in the management of vegetable pests. •Essential oils (EOs) are increasingly being used in integrated pest management.•Eugenol shows promise in pest mortality in the “contact” route of exposure.•D-limonene stands out in the mortality of pests in the “ingestion” exposure route.