Effect of Neem and Mustard oils on Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Silkworm

Effects of thirteen essential oils (anise oil, clove oil, marigold, mustard oil, neem oil, quassia, quilaja, rosemary oil, rotenone, tea tree extract, thyme oil, wintergreen oil, and yucca) and caffeine on typical industrial insect, silkworm (Bombyx mori) and two entomopathogenic nematodes, Steinernema carpocapsae GSN-1 strain (Sc) and Heterorhabditis sp. Gyeongsan strain (Hg) were investigated in the laboratory. When 1,000 ppm of each essential oils was treated, neem oil showed the highest insecticidal activity against silkworm. Mortality of silkworm fed on neem oil treated mulberry leaf was 55.3 and 100% 5 and 10 days after treatment, respectively. The silkworm fed on neem oil treated mulberry leaf did not make cocoon and pupa. Weight of cocoon and pupa was low in rotenone treatment showing 0.27 g and 1.01 g, respectively. Mustard oil had the highest nematicidal activity against entomopathogenic nematodes. 20 ppm of mustard oil resulted in 69.0% and 100% mortality of Sc and Hg 3 days after treatment, but 4% and 36% at 5 ppm in X-plate, respectively. Mortality of baited Galleria mellonella larva by Sc was not different from control at the concentration of 100 ppm of mustard oil while 30% lower in Hg in sand barrier. Mean numbers of established infective juveniles of Hg in Galleria larva were lower than Sc in sand barrier. Survival rate of Sc was similar to control at the concentration of