Evaluation of Chemical Composition, Acaricidal, and Repellent Activities of Artemisia vulgaris L. (Asteraceae) Essential Oil Against Gall Mite Aceria pongamiae Keifer (Acarina: Eriophyidae)

The increasing environmental and health concerns about synthetic pesticides have compelled researchers to investigate more sustainable, plant-based substitutes for pest management. Due to their unique modes of action and biodegradability, essential oils (EOs) represent effective bio-pesticides. This study examines the biological activities of <i>Artemisia vulgaris</i> (Asteraceae) EO (AVEO) against <i>Aceria pongamiae</i> Keifer (Eriophyidae), a destructive gall mite on <i>Pongamia pinnata</i> (Fabaceae), using fumigation, contact toxicity, and repellency assays for the first time. AVEO was isolated through hydro-distillation, yielding 0.86 ± 0.14% <i>v</i>/<i>w</i> and analyzed by GC-MS/MS, with camphor (28.94%), 4-tert-butylaniline (19.79%), <i>α</i>-pinene (6.61%), eucalyptol (6.39%), fenchol (6.03%), and camphene (5.43%) identified as major constituents. The bioassay of fumigation (0.25-1 µL/mL air) showed LC₅₀ values decreased significantly from 1.29 (24 h) to 0.43 µL/mL air (72 h), while LC₅₀ values of contact toxicity bioassay (2.50-10 µL/mL) declined from 37.37 to 4.56 µL/mL over the same period. Repellency reached 86.11% (Class V) at 0.1 µL/mL (72 h), indicating intense concentration and time-dependent efficacy. These results indicate AVEO's potential as a green acaricide, highlighting potent fumigant, contact, and repellent activities against <i>A. pongamiae</i>, positioning it as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic acaricides for sustainable pest control practices with reduced environmental degradation.