تأثیر اسانس درمنه خزری و دو ترکیب اصلی آن بر فعالیت سامانه ایمنی، آنتی اکسیدان و شاخص‌های زیستی شب‌پره ابریشم‌باف پاییزی Hyphantria cunea (Drury)

The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), is a devastating invasive pest native to North America, but is currently being widely spread in various parts of Europe and Asia. This pest causes serious damages to local forests, agricultural crops, orchards, urban ornamental trees and sericulture, resulting in significant economic loss. Long-term and widespread use of broad-spectrum insecticides leads to serious problems such as adverse effects on humans and non-target organisms, elimination of natural enemies, and resurgence of pests. Plant compounds have been introduced as one alternative to chemical pesticides due to their low toxicity to mammals, rapid degradation, and availability. The sweet wormwood, Artemisia annua L., is one of the most important medicinal plants natives to the temperate regions of Asia, which has a wide distribution in Guilan province growing in plains. The aerial parts and flowering branches of this plant contain monoterpenoid and sesquiterpenoid compounds, which are used in the pharmaceutical industry and has attracted attention due to its numerous biological activities. In this study, the sublethal effect of A. annua essential oil and its two major compounds such as camphor, and 1, 8-cineole on biological parameters was investigated. The results indicated prolongation of larval duration in treatments compared to the control. The longest pupation was observed in essential oil treated larvae compared to the control. The adult longevity was significantly decreased in all treatments compared to the control. Similarly, the fecundity decreased significantly in all treatments in comparison with the control. Considering the role of immune and antioxidant system as a means of defense against exotic compounds entering insect body, in this study investigated the effect of lethal and sublethal concentrations of A. annua essential oil, camphor, and 1, 8-cineole on these systems. The results showed that the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase and glucose 6-phosphate increased significantly in the treated larvae compared to the control. The weakening of the immune system in the treated larvae compared to the control was manifested by a decreased total and differential count of hemocyte, reduced number of nodule formation, and a decrease in the activity of phenoloxidase enzyme. Therefore, sweet wormwood essential oil and its major components could be considered a safe and environmentally friendly approach in the possible control of fall webworm.