Earias insulana Boisd. (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) is a major pest of cotton and other crops in Egypt, and the widespread use of insecticides has led to resistance. This study evaluates, for the first time, the bioactivity of
Croton tiglium (Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae) oil and its
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Earias insulana Boisd. (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) is a major pest of cotton and other crops in Egypt, and the widespread use of insecticides has led to resistance. This study evaluates, for the first time, the bioactivity of
Croton tiglium (Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae) oil and its nano-emulsion (CTNE) against 25 newly hatched larvae of
E. insulana Boisd. We assessed their biological effects across different developmental stages and performed histological and ultrastructural examinations. Gas–liquid chromatography (GLC) identified several bioactive compounds in
C. tiglium oil crushed dry seeds, including fatty acids, hydrocarbons, and sterols. CTNE showed excellent quality with a zeta potential of −17.7 mV, an average particle size of 54.28 nm, and spherical droplets of 42.42 nm in diameter. The LC
50 values for
C. tiglium oil and CTNE were 9.02% and 2.70%, respectively. Both treatments significantly impacted the biological characteristics of
E. insulana Boisd., including reduced larval and pupal weight, lower adult emergence, decreased fecundity, and increased mortality. Histologically, there was epithelial cell hypotrophy and detachment, while ultrastructural damage included chromatin condensation, nuclear envelope folding, and mitochondrial damage, indicating apoptotic degeneration. These findings suggest
C. tiglium oil and CTNE as potential, safe alternatives to chemical insecticides.
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