Use of nanoemulsions of plant essential oils as aphid repellents

•Essential oils rich in trans-anethole exert toxic and repellent effects on R. padi.•cis-Jasmone, geraniol and farnesol are repellent at lower doses than citral.•Nanoemulsions of volatile products with smaller particle sizes are more active.•If lecithin is used as a surfactant, larger negative Z-potential values are obtained, producing more stable and active nanoemulsions for storage.