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Insects
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Plant Essential Oils for the Control of Insects and Mites
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Plant Essential Oils for the Control of Insects and Mites

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450). This special issue belongs to the section "Insect Pest and Vector Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 1622

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Douglas Barbosa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Maranhão Campus Codó, Povoado Poraque, sn, Codó 65400-000, MA, Brazil
Interests: essential oils; pesticides; insecticidal effects

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant essential oils have emerged as promising natural alternatives to synthetic pesticides due to their rich chemical diversity, biodegradability, and low environmental persistence. This Special Issue, “Plant Essential Oils for the Control of Insects and Mites”, aims to explore the potential of essential oils and their major constituents in managing pest populations of economic importance, particularly targeting insect and mite pests in agricultural and stored-product systems.

We welcome original research and review articles focused on the isolation, chemical characterization, and bioactivity of essential oils and their compounds. Studies on fumigant, contact, and repellent activity, effects on development and reproduction, sublethal and behavioral impacts, and mechanisms of action and resistance are of particular interest. Contributions addressing formulation strategies, nanoemulsions, and the selective toxicity of essential oils to beneficial organisms are also encouraged.

This Special Issue offers a platform for interdisciplinary contributions from entomology, acarology, plant chemistry, and pest management to deepen our understanding of how essential oils can be integrated into sustainable pest control strategies.

Prof. Dr. Douglas Barbosa
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • essential oils
  • insect control
  • mite control
  • botanical pesticides
  • secondary metabolites
  • acaricidal activity
  • in-tegrated pest management
  • insecticidal mechanisms
  • repellency and oviposition deterrence
  • eco-friendly pest control

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 4423 KB  
Article
Binary Mixtures of Essential Oils: Potent Housefly Adulticides That Are Safe Against Non-Target Species
by Hataichanok Passara, Sirawut Sittichok, Tanapoom Moungthipmalai, Chamroon Laosinwattana, Kouhei Murata and Mayura Soonwera
Insects 2025, 16(8), 855; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16080855 - 17 Aug 2025
Viewed by 702
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the insecticidal potential of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. and Cymbopogon citratus Stapf essential oils (EOs), both alone and in synergistic blends with their primary active compounds, against adult houseflies (Musca domestica L.). Toxicity assessments were also conducted on [...] Read more.
In this study, we investigated the insecticidal potential of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. and Cymbopogon citratus Stapf essential oils (EOs), both alone and in synergistic blends with their primary active compounds, against adult houseflies (Musca domestica L.). Toxicity assessments were also conducted on non-target organisms—dwarf honeybees (Apis florea Fabricius) and guppies (Poecilia reticulata Peters)—to evaluate environmental safety. All binary EO mixtures demonstrated superior efficacy compared to individual EOs and the synthetic pyrethroid α-cypermethrin (1% positive control). The most potent formulation, combining 2.5% (v/v) geranial with 2.5% (v/v) E. globulus EO, exhibited a synergistic effect, achieving complete fly mortality (LT50: 0.06 h). This mixture’s mortality index significantly exceeded those of single-component formulations, with a mortality index of 0.22, confirming greater toxicity to flies than α-cypermethrin. Importantly, all the tested EOs and their blends were non-toxic to honeybees and guppies; in comparison, α-cypermethrin caused significant harm. These findings highlight the 2.5% (v/v) geranial + 2.5% (v/v) E. globulus EO blend as a highly effective and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional insecticides. Further research is recommended to optimize its formulation for practical use in sustainable fly management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Essential Oils for the Control of Insects and Mites)
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15 pages, 920 KB  
Article
Toxicity and Detoxification Enzyme Inhibition in the Two-Spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) by Artemisia annua L. Essential Oil and Its Major Monoterpenoids
by Fatemeh Nasr Azadani, Jalal Jalali Sendi, Asgar Ebadollahi, Roya Azizi and William N. Setzer
Insects 2025, 16(8), 811; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16080811 - 5 Aug 2025
Viewed by 627
Abstract
The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, is one of the polyphagous pests of several crops and forestry, resistant to numerous conventional chemicals. Due to the negative side effects of harmful chemical pesticides, such as environmental pollution, and risks to human health, the [...] Read more.
The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, is one of the polyphagous pests of several crops and forestry, resistant to numerous conventional chemicals. Due to the negative side effects of harmful chemical pesticides, such as environmental pollution, and risks to human health, the introduction of effective and low-risk alternatives is essential. The promising pesticidal effects of essential oils (EOs) isolated from Artemisia annua have been documented in recent studies. In the present study, the acaricidal effects of an A. annua EO, along with its two dominant monoterpenoids, 1,8-cineole and camphor, were investigated against adults of T. urticae. Artemisia annua EO, 1,8-cineole, and camphor, with 24 h-LC50 values of 0.289, 0.533, and 0.64 µL/L air, respectively, had significant toxicity by fumigation against T. urticae adults. Along with lethality, A. annua EO and monoterpenoids had significant inhibitory effects on the activity of detoxifying enzymes, including α- and β-esterases, glutathione S-transferases, and cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase. According to the findings of the present study, A. annua EO and its two dominant monoterpenoids, 1,8-cineole and camphor, with significant toxicity and inhibitory effects on detoxifying enzymes, can be introduced as available, effective, and eco-friendly acaricides in the management of T. urticae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Essential Oils for the Control of Insects and Mites)
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