Horticultural mineral oils (HMOs), highly refined paraffinic oils, are a keystone of modern pest management, used extensively in agriculture for over a century. Their primary efficacy from a physical, rather than chemical, mode of action. HMOs act as contact insecticides predominantly by forming an oil film that physically blocks the spiracles of insects, leading to suffocation. They also function as powerful ovicides by hindering gas exchange through the egg surface and exhibit strong repellent and antifeedant properties, disrupting pest behaviour. HMOs show a broad spectrum of activity and environmental safety, with no documented pest resistance and low risk to groundwater or soil. Their effectiveness is demonstrated across several major pest orders. In hemipteran management, HMOs provide significant control of scales (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus), aphids (Aphis glycines, Myzus persicae), and psyllids (Diaphorina citri), often matching or synergizing with synthetic chemicals. Against lepidopteran pests like the oblique-banded leafroller (Choristoneura rosaceana) and citrus leaf miner (Phyllocnistis citrella), HMOs excel as oviposition deterrents and ovicides. For coleopteran control, they display high contact toxicity against pests such as the sugar beet flea beetle (Cassida vittata). HMOs are indispensable in mite pest management, controlling species like the European red mite (Panonychus ulmi) and yellow mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus), frequently achieving more than 80% mortality. Furthermore, recent data highlights their potent use against thrips, where they often outperform other biorational insecticides. Their low environmental impact and utility in resistance management ensure that HMOs remain an essential, highly effective, and sustainable tool for global crop protection.
Horticultural mineral oil, Aphids, Yellow Mite, Leaf miner, Flea beetle, IPM
Agnello, A. M. (2002). Petroleum-derived spray oils: chemistry, history, refining and formulation. In Spray oils beyond 2000 (pp. 2–18).
Ahmad, M. (2023). European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae) and its management by using Horticulture mineral oils (HMOs) in apple orchards of Kashmir. Journal of Applied Entomologist, 3(3), 17–20.
Ahmed, H. S., & Attia, S. A. (2018). Physiological effects of foliar applications by some horticultural mineral oils (HMO) on vegetative growth, fruiting aspects and scale insects of “Washington” navel orange trees. Middle East Journal of Agriculture Research, 7(4), 1561–1573.
Ataide, L. M., Vargas, G., Velazquez-Hernandez, Y., De Giosa, M., Reyes-Arauz, I., Villamarin, P., ... & Revynthi, A. M. (2025). Greenhouse evaluation of conventional and biorational insecticides for managing the invasive Thrips parvispinus (Karny)(Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Agriculture, 15(13), Article 1451.
Ataide, L. M., Vargas, G., Velazquez-Hernandez, Y., Reyes-Arauz, I., Villamarin, P., Canon, M. A., ... & Revynthi, A. M. (2024). Efficacy of conventional and biorational insecticides against the invasive pest Thrips parvispinus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) under containment conditions. Insects, 15(1), Article 48.
Awasthi, N. S., & Sridharan, S. (2015). Screening of botanicals for their repellent properties to banana pseudostem borer Odoiporus longicollis, Olivier. Bioscan, 7, 147–1521.
Bano, P., Pathania, S. S., Parry, M. A., Ganie, S. A., Arifie, U., Khursheed, R., ... & John, A. Bio-efficacy report of Specol-OSO horticultural mineral oil against major insect pests of apple in Kashmir (J&K). International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry Research, 8(3), 461–467.
Celestino, F. N., Pratissoli, D., Machado, L. C., Santos, H. J. G. D., Queiroz, V. T. D., & Mardgan, L. (2016). Control of coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari)(Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) with botanical insecticides and mineral oils. Acta Scientiarum. Agronomy, 38(1), 1–8.
De Ong, E. R., Knight, H., & Chamberlin, J. C. (1927). A preliminary study of petroleum oil as an insecticide for citrus trees. 351–384.
El Aalaoui, M., Rammali, S., Bencharki, B., & Sbaghi, M. (2024). Efficacy of biorational insecticides and entomopathogenic fungi for controlling Cassida vittata Vill. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in sugar beet crops. Neotropical Entomology, 54(1), Article 2.
Gray, G. P., & De Ong, E. R. (1926). California petroleum insecticides. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry, 18(2), 175–180.
Helmy, E. I., Kwaiz, F. A., & El-Sahn, O. M. N. (2012). The usage of mineral oils to control insects. 167–174.
Hu, W., Zheng, R., Feng, X., Kuang, F., Chun, J., Xu, H., ... & Zhang, N. (2023). Emergence inhibition, repellent activity and antifeedant responds of mineral oils against Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae). International Journal of Pest Management, 69(1), 27–34.
Johnson, W. T. (1980). Spray oils as insecticides. Journal of Arboriculture, 6.
Kamlesh, M., Raghavendra, K. V., & Kumar, M. (2021). Vector management strategies against Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) transmitting potato apical leaf curl virus in seed potatoes. Potato research, 64(2), 167–176.
Kavya, M. K., Srinivasa, N., Vidyashree, A. S., & Ravi, G. B. (2015). Bioefficacy of newer acaricides against two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae and phytoseiid predator, Neoseiulus longispinosus on brinjal under field condition. Plant Archives, 15(1), 493–497.
Khurshid, R., Ganie, S. A., Bano, P., Paray, M. A., Haifa, Z. N., & Dar, T. R. (2023). Efficacy of mineral oils against San Jose scale and European red mite on apple. Indian Journal of Entomology, 1081–1083.
Kraiss, H., & Cullen, E. M. (2014). Efficacy and nontarget effects of reduced-risk insecticides on Aphis glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and its biological control agent Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 101(2), 391–398.
Kulkarni, N. S. (2010). Bio-efficacy of mineral oil (Servo Agrospray) for the management of thrips and mealy bugs on grapes at four different locations of Maharashtra. Journal of Eco-friendly Agriculture, 5(2), 146–149.
Lai, D. T., Khuc, H. D., Van Nguyen, L., Hong, K. J., & Nguyen, H. N. (2022). Potential of using mineral oils for the control of the mosquito bugs Helopeltis theivora (Hemiptera: Miridae) in cashew plantations. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology, 25(3), Article 101947.
Leong, S. S., Leong, S. C., & Beattie, G. A. C. (2021). Effect of horticultural mineral oil on huanglongbing transmission by Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) population in a commercial citrus orchard in Sarawak, Malaysia, Northern Borneo. Insects, 12(9), Article 772.
Liu, Z. M., Meats, A., & Beattie, G. A. C. (2006). Modification of host finding and oviposition behaviour of the citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella, by horticultural mineral oil. Entomologia experimentalis et applicata, 121(3), 243–251.
Najar-Rodriguez, A. J., Lavidis, N. A., Mensah, R. K., Choy, P. T., & Walter, G. H. (2008). The toxicological effects of petroleum spray oils on insects–Evidence for an alternative mode of action and possible new control options. Food and chemical Toxicology, 46(9), 3003–3014.
Ngugi, C. N., Mbaka, J. N., & Muthengi, H. (2023). Evaluation of selected bio-insecticides on Tuta absoluta and Liriomyza trifolii on tomato in open fields in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. East African Journal of Agriculture and Biotechnology, 6(1), 233–242.
Nikolova, I. М., & Georgieva, N. А. (2018). The effects of a synthetic insecticide and a mineral oil on alfalfa insect pests. Pesticidi i fitomedicina, 33(3-4), 221–231.
Ouyang, G., Fang, X., Lu, H., Zhou, X., Meng, X., Yu, S., ... & Xia, Y. (2013). Repellency of five mineral oils against Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae). Florida Entomologist, 96(3), 974–982.
Pathania, M., Arora, P. K., Pathania, S., & Kumar, A. (2019). Studies on population dynamics and management of pomegranate aphid, Aphis punicae Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on pomegranate under semi-arid conditions of South-western Punjab. Scientia Horticulturae, 243, 300–306.
Pieterse, Z., Buitenhuis, R., Liu, J., Fefer, M., & Teshler, I. (2023). Efficacy of oil and photosensitizer against Frankliniella occidentalis in greenhouse sweet pepper. Antibiotics, 12(3), Article 495.
Raj, C., Singh, S., Kalita, H., Avasthe, R. K., Gopi, R., Singh, M., ... & Singh, N. J. (2021). Prevalence of insect pests in large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) and evaluation of bio-rationals for the management of major pests under organic agroecosystem of Sikkim. Journal of Spices and Aromatic Crops, 30(1), 42–49.
Roy, S., Rahman, A., Barua, A., Bora, F. R., Handique, G., & Pujari, D. (2015). Evaluation of petroleum based horticulture oil for the management of the tea red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae Neitner (Acarina: Tetranychidae). Acta Phytopathologica et Entomologica Hungarica, 50(1), 127–137.
Sadawarti, M., Katare, S., Singh, S. P., Shah, M. A., Samadhiya, R. K., Sharma, S., & Singh, R. K. (2022). Efficacy of mineral and non-edible seed oils against aphids and whitefly in potato. Indian Journal of Entomology, 84(3), 614–616.
Saloni, M. B. B., & Kaur, P. (2020). Evaluation of different biorationals against yellow mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks), (Acari: Tarsonemidae) infesting capsicum (Capsicum annuum var. frutescens) under protected cultivation. Agricultural Research Journal, 57(5), 714–720.
Sarkar, P., Das, S., Kheroar, S., Kundu, A., Barman, S. K., Mandal, K., & Mitra, S. (2020). Bio-efficacy of mineral oil against yellow mite in dark jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) under Terai Region of West Bengal. Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology, 39(18), 77–82.
Shepard, H. E. (1939). The chemistry and toxicology of insecticides. Burgess Pub. Co.
Sherwani, A., Ahmad, M. M., Bano, P., & Maqbool, S. (2018). Evaluation of MAK All Season horticultural mineral oil (HMO) against major insect pests of apple in Kashmir. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 7(11), 1270–1278.
Singh, H., Cheema, H. K., & Singh, R. (2020). Field evaluation of horticultural mineral oils and botanicals against bean thrips, Megalurothrips distalis (Karny) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), in summer mung bean. Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control, 30(1), Article 124.
Singh, S. (2017). Biology and chemical control of two spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) on rose. (Doctoral dissertation). Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry.
Szczepaniec, A., Lathrop-Melting, A., Janecek, T., Nachappa, P., Cranshaw, W., Alnajjar, G., & Axtell, A. (2024). Suppression of hemp russet mite, Aculops cannabicola (Acari: Eriophyidae), in industrial hemp in greenhouse and field. Environmental Entomology, 53(1), 18–25.
Wins-Purdy, A. H., Whitehouse, C., Judd, G. J. R., & Evenden, M. L. (2009). Effect of horticultural oil on oviposition behaviour and egg survival in the obliquebanded leafroller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). The Canadian Entomologist, 141(1), 86–94.
Xue, Y. G., Watson, D. M., Nicetic, O., & Beattie, G. A. (2002). Impact of nC24 horticultural mineral oil deposits on the behaviour of Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). General and Applied Entomology: The Journal of the Entomological Society of New South Wales, 31, 69–73.
Yadav, K. G. A. (2018). Bioefficacy of horticultural mineral oil against the spider mite, Tetranychus truncates (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) on okra. (Master's thesis). Kerala Agricultural University.
