Lemon Peel Essential oil and its Nano-Formulation as green alternatives Bioinsecticides to control Agrotis ipsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract

Due to excessive use of synthetic pesticides the pest resistance developed along with pesticide residues accumulation in crops. Therefore, in order to control pests, many nations are switching from chemical-based agriculture to "green" agriculture, which makes extensive use of biopesticides. The destructive pest black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a polyphagous species that economically lead to loss to a broad range of crops including corn, cotton, wheat and many vegetables through the damage of foliar and roots. In this study we tested the lethal activity of Lemon Peel Essential Oil (LPEO) and its nano-form (LPEO-NPs) against the biological parameters of the black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon(Hufnagel). Lemon Peel Essential Oil (LPEO) has insecticidal activity against the black cutworm and causes different levels of effects on biological parameters of A. ipsilon according to its concentration and formulation. The overall data points to possible uses of nanoformulated essential oils in pest control. The overall data points to possible uses of nanoformulated essential oils in pest control.