title: Variation in chemical composition and acaricidal activity against Dermanyssus gallinae of four eucalyptus essential oils.
abstract: The results of this study suggest that certain eucalyptus essential oils may be of use as an alternative to synthetic acaricides in the management of the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae. At a level of 0.21 mg/cm(2), the essential oil from Eucalyptus citriodora achieved 85% mortality in D. gallinae over a 24 h exposure period in contact toxicity tests. A further two essential oils from different eucalyptus species, namely E. globulus and E. radiata, provided significantly (P < 0.05) lower mite mortality (11 and 19%, respectively). Notable differences were found between the eucalyptus essential oils regarding their chemical compositions. There appeared to be a trend whereby the essential oils that were composed of the fewer chemical components were the least lethal to D. gallinae. It may therefore be the case that the complexity of an essential oil's chemical make up plays an important role in dictating the toxicity of that oil to pests such as D. gallinae.
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK. D.R.George@ncl.ac.uk
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Dino
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Masic
authors.forename: Olivier A E
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Sparagano
authors.forename: Jonathan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Guy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005052:Eucalyptus / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008925:Mites / Q000187:drug effects*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D010575:Pesticides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D013983:Tick Control / Q000379:methods; D014934:Wood / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010575:Pesticides; D010938:Plant Oils