Evaluation of the potential of d-limonene as an insecticide against the euonymus scale, Unaspis euonymi Comstock (Hemiptera: Diaspididae)

Subject Areas : Plant Pests

Mojhdeh Ghoorchian ¹ , Shima Rahmani ² , Asghar Saleh ³

1 - Green Space Research, Education and Consulting Center, District 17 Municipality, Tehran, Iran
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Protection, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Green Space Research, Education and Consulting Center, District 17 Municipality, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2025-01-08 Accepted : 2025-02-28 Published : 2025-03-18

Keywords: Unaspis euonymi, boxwood shrub, essential oil, d-limonene,

Abstract :

The euonymus scale, Unaspis euonymi Comstock, is a major pest of the evergreen spindle, Euonymus japonicus, and is distributed worldwide. This member of the Diaspididae family infests greenhouses and urban areas. Feeding on plant sap, it destroys chloroplasts, causing pale spots on the plant surface and leaves to drop. The density of this insect population on the branches and leaves greatly reduces beauty of plant. Management of this pest is currently carried out using chlorpyrifos mixed with emulsifying oil when mobile nymphs and early instars as sensitive stages are present. Considering the adverse environmental effects of chemical pesticides, it is recommended to introduce alternative solutions. Aiming this purpose, the effectiveness of the compound d-limonene as a biocompatible insecticide on the euonymus scale was investigated in this study. Experiments were conducted in six treatments and five replications under laboratory conditions. Approximately ten-centimeter-long shoots infected with the pest were treated with concentrations equivalent to 100, 133, 181, 246 and 333 gL^-1 of solvent (distilled water + 100 μL of Tween-80) using a small hand sprayer. After six hours, dead insects were recognized from live ones and counted. Probit analysis was performed using the Polo-Plus software. The LC25, LC50, LC75, and LC95 values were evaluated as 196, 247.8, 313, and 438.4 gL^-1, respectively. Although d-limonene showed insecticidal potential against the euonymus scale, further studies, including the estimation of synergistic effects, the use of adjuvants, and deep research in the field of nanotechnology, are needed to introduce this compound as an effective insecticide for U. euonymi.

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