Production of Natural Insecticide on Management of Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) in Family Farming

Collard greens are commonly grown in family farming systems; however, damage caused by the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) reduces yields, leading to successive applications of insecticides and consequently, environmental and toxicological problems. Therefore, it is essential to search for alternatives that reduce the use of pesticides and are economically viable and accessible to small farmers. This study was aimed at evaluating the insecticidal activity of aqueous extracts of neem and tobacco on P. xylostella. First instar caterpillars were offered collard leaf discs treated with different concentrations (30 caterpillars per treatment) and after the third day, mortality was evaluated. To evaluate ovicidal properties, collard leaves with 30 eggs were immersed in extracts and after 48 h, viability was measured. Oviposition deterrent activity was assessed with 23 couples of P. xylostella released in cages (repetitions) containing treated collard plants and after 48 h, the number of eggs per plant was recorded. Neem and tobacco extracts exhibited larvicidal, ovicidal, and oviposition deterrent properties against P. xylostella, indicating that the use of these extracts may be promising alternatives in family farming systems.

Fumigant Toxicity and Oviposition Deterrent Activity of Volatile Constituents from Asari Radix et Rhizoma against Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) is a worldwide pest of potato. Plant-borne chemicals would be potential alternatives of synthetic chemical fumigants against P. operculella in the storage. Asari Radix et Rhizoma is derived from the dry roots and rhizomes of Asarum heterotropoides Fr. Schmidt var. mandshuricum, A. sieboldii Miq. var. seoulense, or A. sieboldii. In this study, fumigant toxicity and oviposition deterrent of volatile constituents from ARR, δ-3-carene, γ-terpinene, terpinolene, eucarvone, 3,5-dimethoxytoluene, and methyleugenol were tested against P. operculella. The preliminary verification of preventive and control effects of eucarvone, 3,5-dimethoxytoluene and methyleugenol on P. operculella was carried out by simulating warehouse experiments. The results indicated that the six compounds above had fumigation toxic effects on the adults and eggs of P. operculella. Among them, δ-3-carene, γ-terpinene, and terpinolene had weaker fumigation effects than those of eucarvone, 3,5-dimethoxytoluene, and methyleugenol. The LC50 values of eucarvone, 3,5-dimethoxytoluene, and methyleugenol against adult P. operculella were 1.01, 1.78, 1.51 mg/liter air, respectively. The LC50 values against egg P. operculella were 1.09, 0.55, 0.30 mg/liter air, respectively. The oviposition deterrent experiment showed that only methyleugenol (at 5 and 1 mg/ml) and eucarvone (5 mg/ml) had a substantial oviposition deterrent effect. The simulated warehouse experiment verified that methyleugenol, eucarvone, and 3,5-dimethoxytoluene protected potatoes from P. operculella and demonstrated that methyleugenol had the best preventive and control effects. It was concluded that methyleugenol was the active ingredient with the most potential in the volatiles from ARR on P. operculella control and merit further study as botanic fumigant.

Fumigant and feeding deterrent activity of essential oils against Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae)

Ikawati S, Himawan T, Abadi AL, Tarno H. 2020. Fumigant and feeding deterrent activity of essential oils against Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae). Biodiversitas 21: 4301-4308. This study aimed to determine the fumigant and antifeedant activity of some plant essential oils against Cryptolestes ferrugineus. Essential oils were extracted from cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix), citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus), zodea (Euodia suaveolens), and clove (Syzygium aromaticum). The extraction used the maceration method with n-Hexane as a solvent. The results of the experiments showed that all essential oils have fumigant toxicity. Fumigant toxicity of kaffir lime, citronella grass, zodea, and clove oil; eggs and pupae were more susceptible than adults and larvae, while for cinnamon, pupae and adults were more susceptible than eggs and larvae. Median Lethal Concentration (LC50) of all essential oils for eggs larvae, pupae, and adults respectively, for cinnamon were 17, 24, 9, and 12 ppm, for kaffir lime were 12, 17, 8 and 15 ppm, however, on citronella grass were 11, 22, 8, and 14 ppm, for zodea were 16, 22, 10 and 20 ppm, for clove were 11, 24, 7 and 14 ppm. The fifth essential oils showed antifeedant activity in a no-choice test against C. ferrugineus adults. Also, the fifth essential oils significantly reduced the relative growth rate (RGR), relative consumption rate (RCR), and food utilization (ECI) of C. ferrugineus adults. It shows that the essential oils have great potential as one of the storage pest control components.

Chemical Composition of Volatile Oils of Fresh and Air-Dried Buds of Cannabis chemovars, Their Insecticidal and Repellent Activities

The volatile oils of fresh and air-dried buds of 3 different varieties of Cannabis, namely, high cannabidiol (CBD) chemotype, intermediate CBD/tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) chemotype, and high THC chemotype were prepared by hydrodistillation. Gas chromatography analysis of the volatile oils resulted in the identification of 71 compounds, of which 33 were monoterpenes and 38 were sesquiterpenes. The volatile oil obtained from the THC chemotype showed an increase in the ratio of the sesquiterpenes to monoterpenes content. The content of terpinolene was dramatically decreased upon drying of THC chemotype. Moderate increase in β-caryophyllene and caryophyllene oxide was observed. However, there was no detectable change in the percentage of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes content in both the intermediate type and CBD chemotype upon drying. The insecticidal activity of the volatile oils was evaluated. The oil obtained from the fresh and dried high CBD cannabis showed good biting deterrent activity at 10 ug/cm2 compared with N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide at 4.78 µg/cm2, and good larvicidal activity.

Repellent and Feeding Deterrent Activities of Butanolides and Lignans Isolated from Cinnamomum camphora against Tribolium castaneum

Three lignans (1–3) and three butanolides (4–6) were isolated from the lipophilic extract of the Cinnamomum camphora stem bark. The six compounds were identified as (-)-sesamin (1), 9α-hydroxysesamin (2), 9β-hydroxysesamin (3), obtusilactone A (4), isoobtusilactone A (IOA, 5), and isomahubanolide (6) from their spectroscopic data. Four (1, 2 and 5, 6) of them were evaluated for their repellent and feeding deterrent activities against Tribolium castaneum. In this work, the three butanolides (4–6) were confirmed to exist in C. camphora for the first time. Results of bioassays indicated that (-)-sesamin (1), IOA (5), and isomahubanolide (6) displayed certain repellent activities against T. castaneum at 78.63, 15.73, and 3.15 μg/cm2 at 2 h after exposure. Among the three compounds, (-)-sesamin (1) and IOA (5) exerted stronger effects and maintained longer duration of repellency. Furthermore, IOA (5) and isomahubanolide (6) showed good feeding deterrent activity against T. castaneum. IOA (5) was still potently active at low concentrations with the feeding deterrence index (FDI) ranging from 42.85% to 50.66% at 15–1500 ppm. This work provides some evidence for explaining antiinsect properties of the nonvolatile fraction of the C. camphora stem bark and helps promote the development and comprehensive utilization of this tree species.

Oviposition Deterrent Activity and Ovicidal Effect of Pometia pinnata Leaves Extract against Dengue Vector, Aedes aegypti (Diftera: Culicidae)

Aedes aegypti is the main vector of dengue fever that most commonly occurred in Indonesia. The application of botanical insecticides is being developed as an alternative vector control. Botanical components have been reported as the potential alternative to inhibit the process of oviposition and fecundity suppression. This study aims to determine the oviposition deterrent activity and ovicidal effects of ethanol extract of Pometia pinnata leaves against Aedes aegypti. Oviposition deterrent assay was conducted on twenty bloodfed females in a cage (40 cm x 40 cm x 40 cm). One treated oviposition trap and one control oviposition trap were placed in the opposite corner of the cage. Four replicates were performed for each concentration. The eggs were counted and analyzed after 72 hours of trial. Ethanol extract of Pometia pinnata leaves have antioviposition effect on female mosquitoes Aedes aegypti at 400 ppm (effective repellency / ER = 56.38%; oviposition active index/OAI = -0.39) and 500 ppm (ER = 66.4%; OAI = -0.49). In the ovicidal assay, twentyfive eggs are used for determination ovicidal effect and five replicates were performed for each concentration. The hatched larvae were collected and counted daily. The ethanolic extract of Pometia pinnata leaves at 0.05%, 0,1%, 0.15%, 0.2%, and 0.25% concentration have ovicidal activity of 11%, 28%, 87%, 94%, and 98% against Aedes aegypti eggs, respectively. This study revealed that the ethanol extract of Pometia pinnata leaves could be a potential alternative in controlling the dengue vector.

Third-generation ionic liquids with N-alkylated 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane cations and pelargonate anions

Novel ionic liquids with cations based on alkyl derivatives of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) and an anion derived from naturally occurring pelargonic acid possessed double biological functions: herbicidal and deterrent activity.

Uji Aktivitas Antioksidan Ekstrak Metanol Biji Kesumba Keling (Bixa orellana L)

Kesumba keling (Bixa orellana L) has been widely used as a natural dye on lips, hair, and cloth. The red pigment in kesumba keling seeds comes from a bixin and norbixin compound which have many conjugated double bonds, so it has the potential of antioxidants. This study aims to determine the antioxidant compound and an antioxidant activity of methanol extract of kesumba keling seeds. The moisture content of kesumba keling seeds is 78.74%. The powder of kesumba keling seeds was extracted using maceration method with 80% of methanol. Phytochemical test results of methanol extract positively contained flavonoid compound. An antioxidant activity test of methanol extract of kesumba keling seeds was carried out by determining DPPH free radical deterrent activity. The absorbance measurement were made using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 517 nm. Kesumba keling seeds extract has antioxidant activity which is indicated by IC50 value of 69.425 ppm, so it is classified as a strong antioxidant.

Larvicidal, adulticidal, and oviposition-deterrent activity of Piper betle L. essential oil to Aedes aegypti

Background and Aim: Aedes aegypti is a primary vector of many arthropod-borne diseases. One of the diseases, dengue fever, is an endemic disease in Indonesia causing high mortalities for decades. There are no preventive and specific treatments for dengue so far. Therefore, prevention of this disease largely depends on the mosquito control. Since resistance to chemical insecticides occurred worldwide, the study on alternate and new mosquito insecticides are mandatory. This study aimed to demonstrate the effect of essential oil from P. betle L. in the larval and adult stages, as well as its influence on oviposition activity of A. aegypti mosquito. Materials and Methods: P. betle efficacy was evaluated in various stages of A. aegypti development. For the larvicidal activity, larvae instar III stage was used. Adulticidal assay in this experiment was performed using newly emerged A. aegypti. For oviposition assay, mated A. aegypti was tested for their responses to P. betle-treated and non-treated ovitraps. Results: P. betle L. - adulticide activity was effective with a concentration of 2.5 μl/ml, caused 100% mortality within 15-30 min. Larvicide activity was observed after 1 h, 24 h, and 48 h post-treatment with LC50183, 92.7, and 59.8 ppm and LC90> 637, 525, and 434.7 ppm, respectively. Oviposition activity index was −0.917 in 1000 ppm. In addition, the eggs number of A. aegypti oviposition with 100 ppm of essential oil P. betle L. was 5 times lower than the control. Conclusion: This study demonstrated clearly that essential oil derived from P. betle L. potentially acts as alternate bioinsecticide to control A. aegypti population. The application can be varied or combined in different stages of mosquito development.