European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Acari: Tetranychidae) is one of the main pests of apple trees worldwide. The main purpose of this research was to study the lethal and sub-lethal effects of Salvia officinalis and S. rosmarinus essential oils (EOS) on the European red mite. It was found that the LC50 values of EOS of S. officinalis and S. rosmarinus were 581.95 and 460.67 μL l−1 for contact toxicity, and 3.40 and 4.03 μL l−1 air, for fumigant toxicity respectively. With increasing the concentration of EOS, the death rate of mites was increased. To study the lethality of S. officinalis and S. rosmarinus EOS on the European red mite, concentrations of the LC25 values of the mentioned EOS were 443.32 and 273.48 μL l−1, respectively. The net reproductive rate (R0) in the control and in the treatment with S. officinalis and S. rosmarinus EOS were 5.18 ± 0.94, 3.12 ± 0.49 and 3.28 ± 0.51 offspring/female/ individual, respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) in the control and in the treatment with S. officinalis and S. rosmarinus were 0.10 ± 0.01, 0.07 ± 0.01, and 0.07 ± 0.01 day−1, respectively. The finite rate of population increases (λ) in the control and the S. officinalis and S. rosmarinus treatments were 1.11 ± 0.13, 1.07 ± 0.07 and 1.08 ± 0.07 day−1, respectively, which were significantly smaller than the control. The results showed that both tested EOS have lethal and sub-lethal effects on the European red mite. Also, the effect of S. officinalis EO in reducing parameters such as the immature longevity, female longevity, and fertility was estimated to be greater than that of S. rosmarinus EO, and there was no statistical difference between them. Finally, the mentioned plant compounds have noticeable effects on the age-stage specific survival and fertility rates in the European red mite and possess the capability of significantly reducing its population under controlled condition.
