Acaricidal effect of essential oils from Lippia graveolens (Lamiales: Verbenaceae), Rosmarinus officinalis (Lamiales: Lamiaceae), and Allium sativum (Liliales: Liliaceae) against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae).

Acaricidal effects of three essential oils extracted from Mexican oregano leaves (Lippia graveolens Kunth), rosemary leaves (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), and garlic bulbs (Allium sativum L.) on 10-d-old Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini) tick larvae were evaluated by using the larval packet test bioassay. Serial dilutions of the three essential oils were tested from a starting concentration of 20 to 1.25%. Results showed that both Mexican oregano and garlic essential oils had very similar activity, producing high mortality (90-100%) in all tested concentrations on 10-d-old R. microplus tick larvae. Rosemary essential oil produced >85% larval mortality at the higher concentrations (10 and 20%), but the effect decreased noticeably to 40% at an oil concentration of 5%, and mortality was absent at 2.5 and 1.25% of the essential oil concentration. Chemical composition of the essential oils was elucidated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses. Mexican oregano essential oil included thymol (24.59%), carvacrol (24.54%), p-cymene (13.6%), and y-terpinene (7.43%) as its main compounds, whereas rosemary essential oil was rich in a-pinene (31.07%), verbenone (15.26%), and 1,8-cineol (14.2%), and garlic essential oil was rich in diallyl trisulfide (33.57%), diallyl disulfide (30.93%), and methyl allyl trisulfide (11.28%). These results suggest that Mexican oregano and garlic essential oils merit further investigation as components of alternative approaches for R. microplus tick control.

Adulticidal and oviposition- and hatching-altering activities of essential oil from Mexican oregano leaves (Lippia graveolens H.B.K.) against the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae).

Adulticidal and oviposition- and hatching-altering activities of essential oil extracted from Mexican oregano leaves (Lippia graveolens H.B.K.) (OEO) were evaluated on engorged adult female Rhipicephalus microplus ticks using the adult immersion test bioassay. Twofold dilutions of OEO were tested from a starting dilution of 10% down to 1.25%. Results showed 100% adulticidal activity at 10% OEO concentration and oviposition inhibition of 65.8% and 40.9% at 5.0% and 2.5% OEO concentration, respectively. Egg hatching inhibition was achieved by 26.0% and 11.5% at 5.0% and 2.5% OEO concentration, respectively. These effects could be attributed to OEO major components: thymol, carvacrol and p-cymene, which together account for more than 60.0% of the OEO chemical composition. Mexican oregano could represent a potential source for development of alternative tick control agents.

Adulticidal and oviposition- and hatching-altering activities of essential oil from Mexican oregano leaves (Lippia graveolens H.B.K.) against the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)

Adulticidal and oviposition- and hatching-altering activities of essential oil extracted from Mexican oregano leaves (Lippia graveolens H.B.K.) (OEO) were evaluated on engorged adult female Rhipicephalus microplus ticks using the adult immersion test bioassay. Twofold dilutions of OEO were tested from a starting dilution of 10% down to 1.25%. Results showed 100% adulticidal activity at 10% OEO concentration and oviposition inhibition of 65.8% and 40.9% at 5.0% and 2.5% OEO concentration, respectively. Egg hatching inhibition was achieved by 26.0% and 11.5% at 5.0% and 2.5% OEO concentration, respectively. These effects could be attributed to OEO major components: thymol, carvacrol and p-cymene, which together account for more than 60.0% of the OEO chemical composition. Mexican oregano could represent a potential source for development of alternative tick control agents.