ABSTRACT
The poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae is the most important ectoparasite in domestic poultry. Some plant preparations have been shown to be an effective acaricide against it. The acaricidal effects of cinnamon, mint, and eucalyptus extracts were studied. Mites were counted in the monitoring traps for the first time in a layer house with a history of D. gallinae problem. Then, some rows of layer house were sprayed using a concentration of 27.50 mg/Cm[3] cinnamon, 28.30 mg/Cm[3] mint, 63 mg/Cm[3] eucalyptus extracts and a similar row was used as an untreated control group. Red mite traps made of cardboard were used to assess the mite density during days 1 and 7 after treatment and removed after 24 h. The collected mites were counted and the efficacy against all mite stages [larvae, nymphs and adults] was calculated. Results showed that on day 1 and 7 after the administration of cinnamon extract, efficacy rate was 66.97% and 12.91%, respectively. Moreover, efficacy rate on day 1 and 7 was 80.85% and 58.14% when treatment was done with eucalyptus extract, 90.19% and 40.24% with mint extract. Also, statistical analyses showed significant differences between trapped mites during the first day after plant preparations treatment and control group. But this study did not show significant differences between trapped mites during the first week after plant extracts treatment with the exception of eucalyptus. It can be concluded that plant preparations can be used for controlling poultry red mite