Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

In vitro efficacies of oils, silicas and plant preparations against the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae

  • Published:
Experimental and Applied Acarology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of physically acting substances (oils and silicas) and plant preparations for the control of the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer 1778). Reproduction and survival of fed D. gallinae females were evaluated in vitro for a total of 168 h using the “area under the survival curve” (AUC) to compare survival of the mites between treatments. Four oils (two plant oils, one petroleum spray oil and diesel), one soap, three silicas (one synthetic amorphous silica, one diatomaceous earth (DE) and one DE with 2% pyrethrum extract) and seven plant preparations (derived from Chrysanthemum cineariaefolium, Allium sativum, Tanacetum vulgare, Yucca schidigera, Quillaja saponaria, Dryopteris filix-mas, and Thuja occidentalis) were tested at various concentrations. All the oils, diesel and soap significantly reduced D. gallinae survival. All silicas tested inhibited reproduction. DE significantly reduced mite survival, but amorphous silica was less effective in vitro. Except for pure A. sativum juice and the highest concentration of C. cineariaefolium extract, the plant preparations tested resulted in statistically insignificant control of D. gallinae.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agnello AM, Reissig WH, Kovach J, Nyrop JP (2003) Integrated apple pest management in New York State using predatory mites and selective pesticides. Agric Ecosyst Environ 94:183–195. doi:10.1016/S0167-8809(02)00026-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amonkar SV, Reeves EL (1970) Mosquito control with active principle of garlic, Allium sativum. J Econ Entomol 63:1172–1175

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beugnet F, Chauve C, Gauthey M, Beert L (1997) Resistance of the red poultry mite to pyrethroids in France. Vet Rec 140:577–579

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Birrenkott GP, Brockenfelt GE, Greer JA, Owens MD (2000) Topical application of garlic reduces northern fowl mite infestation in laying hens. Poult Sci 79:1575–1577

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell CL, Madden LV (1990) Introduction to plant disease epidemiology. Wiley, New York, p 532

    Google Scholar 

  • Cencek T (2003) Prevalence of Dermanyssus gallinae in poultry farms in silesia region in Poland. Bull Vet Inst Pulawy 47:465–469

    Google Scholar 

  • Chauve C (1998) The poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778): current situation and future prospects for control. Vet Parasitol 79:239–245. doi:10.1016/S0304-4017(98)00167-8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chirico J, Eriksson H, Fossum O, Jansson D (2003) The poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, a potential vector of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae causing erysipelas in hens. Med Vet Entomol 17:232–234. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2915.2003.00428.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Collins DA (2006) A review of alternatives to organophosphorus compounds for the control of storage mites. J Stored Prod Res 42:395–426. doi:10.1016/j.jspr.2005.08.001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ebeling W (1971) Sorptive dusts for pest control. Annu Rev Pest Control 16:123–158

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EC (2007) Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing. Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91. Official Journal of the European Communities, L189/1 (20.7.2007), pp 1–23

  • Fernandez DE, Beers EH, Brunner JF, Doerr MD, Dunley JE (2005) Effects of seasonal mineral oil applications on the pest and natural enemy complexes of apple. J Econ Entomol 98:1630–1640

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fiddes MD, Le Gresley S, Parsons DG, Epe C, Coles GC, Stafford KA (2005) Prevalence of the poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) in England. Vet Rec 157:233–235

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Flint HM, Parks NJ, Holmes JE, Jones JA, Higuera CM (1995) Tests of garlic oil for control of the silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii bellows and perring (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) in cotton. Southwest Entomologist 20:137–150

    Google Scholar 

  • George DR, Callaghan K, Guy JH, Sparagano OAE (2008a) Lack of prolonged activity of lavender essential oils as acaricides against the poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) under laboratory conditions. Res Vet Sci 85:540–542. doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2008.02.001

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • George DR, Smith TJ, Sparagano OAE, Guy JH (2008b) The influence of ‘time since last blood meal’ on the toxicity of essential oils to the poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae). Vet Parasitol 155:333–335. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.05.005

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guimaraes JH, Tucci EC (1992) Evaluation of mineral oil in the control of Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778) (Acari, Dermanyssidae) in field and laboratory conditions. Rev Bras Entomol 36:859–862

    Google Scholar 

  • Höglund J, Nordenfors H, Uggla A (1995) Prevalence of the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, in different types of production systems for egg layers in Sweden. Poult Sci 74:1793–1798

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoop R (2008) Ektoparasiten. In: Aviforum (ed) Merkblätter Geflügelhaltung Aviforum, Zollikofen, Sect. 7.2. p 1–6

  • Isman MB (2006) Botanical insecticides, deterrents and repellents in modern agriculture and an increasingly regulated world. Annu Rev Entomol 51:45–66. doi:10.1146/annurev.ento.51.110104.151146

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kilpinen O, Roepstorff A, Permin A, Norgaard-Nielsen G, Lawsson LG, Simonsen HB (2005) Influence of Dermanyssus gallinae and Ascaridia galli infections on behaviour and health of laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus). Br Poult Sci 46:26–34. doi:10.1080/00071660400023839

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim S-I, Yi J-H, J-h Tak, Ahn Y-J (2004) Acaricidal activity of plant essential oils against Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari: Dermanyssidae). Vet Parasitol 120:297–304. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2003.12.016

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim S-I, Na Y-E, Yi J-H, Kim B-S, Ahn Y-J (2007) Contact and fumigant toxicity of oriental medicinal plant extracts against Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari: Dermanyssidae). Vet Parasitol 145:377–382. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.12.021

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kirkwood AC (1967) Anaemia in poultry infested with red mite Dermanyssus gallinae. Vet Rec 80:514–516

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lamina J, Kruner N (1966) Die insektizide Wirkung hochdisperser Kieselsäuren auf Ektoparasiten des Geflügels. Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr 71:122–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu Y, Fang J (2003) Bonferroni adjustment. In: Advanced statistics. River Edge, p 870

  • Maurer V, Perler E 2006. Control of the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae. In: Organic congress 2006. Odense, May 30–31. 2006, pp 504–505

  • Maurer V, Baumgärtner J, Bieri M, Fölsch DW (1993) The occurrence of the chicken mite Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari: Dermanyssidae) in Swiss poultry houses. Mitt Schweiz Entomol Ges 66:87–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Maurer V, Baumgärtner J, Fölsch DW (1995) The impact of Dermanyssus gallinae infestations on performance and on physiological and behavioural parameters of laying hens. In: Kropczynska D, Boczek J, Tomczyk A (eds) The acari. Physiological and ecological aspects of acari-host relationships. European Association of Acarologists, Warszawa, pp 551–556

    Google Scholar 

  • Momen FM, Amer SAA, Saber SA (2006) Acaricidal potentials of some essential, mineral and plant oils against the predacious mite Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Acta Phytopathol Entomol Hung 41:383–393. doi:10.1556/APhyt.41.2006.3-4.20

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nordenfors H, Höglund J, Tauson R, Chirico J (2001) Effect of permethrin impregnated plastic strips on Dermanyssus gallinae in loose-housing systems for laying hens. Vet Parasitol 102:121–131. doi:10.1016/S0304-4017(01)00528-3

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Palyvos NE, Athanassiou CG, Kavallieratos NG (2006) Acaricidal effect of a diatomaceous earth formulation against Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Astigmata: Acaridae) and its predator Cheyletus malaccensis (Prostigmatae: Cheyletidae) in four grain commodities. J Econ Entomol 99:229–236. doi:10.1603/0022-0493(2006)099[0229:AEOADE]2.0.CO;2

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rice ND, Winston ML, Whittington R, Higo HA (2002) Comparison of release mechanisms for botanical oils to control Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) and Acarapis woodi (Acari: Tarsonemidae) in colonies of honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae). J Econ Entomol 95:221–226

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen S, Yeruham I, Braverman Y (2002) Dermatitis in humans associated with the mites Pyemotes tritici, Dermanyssus gallinae, Ornithonyssus bacoti and Androlaelaps casalis in Israel. Med Vet Entomol 16:442–444. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2915.2002.00386.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saez A, Fuentes Mora VH (2007) Comparison of the desiccation effects of marine and freshwater diatomaceous earths on insects. Stored Prod Res 43:404–409. doi:10.1016/j.jspr.2006.11.002

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thind BB, Ford HL (2006) Assessment of susceptibility of the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari: Dermanyssidae) to some acaricides using an adapted filter paper based bioassay. Vet Parasitol 144:344–348. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.10.002

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zeman P, Zelezny J (1985) The susceptibility of the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778), to some acaricides under laboratory conditions. Exp Appl Acarol 1:17–22. doi:10.1007/BF01262196

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the European Community financial participation under the Sixth Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities, for the Integrated Project QUALITYLOWINPUTFOOD, FP6-FOOD-CT-2003-506358. The views expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of the information contained herein. Mention of a proprietary chemical or a trade name does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Ackerstrasse, 5070, Frick, Switzerland

    Veronika Maurer, Erika Perler & Felix Heckendorn

Authors
  1. Veronika Maurer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Erika Perler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Felix Heckendorn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Veronika Maurer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Maurer, V., Perler, E. & Heckendorn, F. In vitro efficacies of oils, silicas and plant preparations against the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae . Exp Appl Acarol 48, 31–41 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-009-9254-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-009-9254-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation