Lethal Effect and Two-Sex Life Table of Phthorimaea absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) Treated with Melaleuca alternifolia and Eucalyptus staigeriana Essential Oils

The tomato leafminer Phthorimaea absoluta is an important pest of solanaceous plants and is considered a key pest of tomato plants. This pest is rapidly dispersed, difficult to con-trol, and resistant to the main synthetic insecticides. The objective was to determine the lethal and sublethal effects of three essential oils (Eos) of Melaleuca alternifolia and Euca-lyptus staigeriana against P. absoluta. We evaluated the effects of the EOs during the life cy-cle of the pest using an age-stage, two-sex life table. The treatments were solubilized in ac-etone and applied to the back of the caterpillars. The EOs of M. alternifolia and E. staigeriana reduced P. absoluta longevity to 22.2 and 15.9 days and negatively impacted demographic parameters. Melaleuca alternifolia notably decreased the intrinsic rate of increase. Chroma-tographic findings revealed the presence of 19 compounds in the M. alternifolia EO, with terpinen-4-ol, γ-terpinene and α-terpinene being the most abundant. On the other hand, E. staigeriana presented 25 constituents, with the compounds limonene, geranial and neral being the most abundant. The results obtained demonstrate the insecticidal potential of M. alternifolia and E. staigeriana EOs in the control of P. absoluta.