Powders and essential oils were prepared from the aerial parts of Cinnamomum camphora, Ocimum basilicum, Chenopodium ambrosioides, and seeds of Pimpinella anisum. Their adulticidal activities and effects on the F 1 progeny of Trogoderma... more
Powders and essential oils were prepared from the aerial parts of Cinnamomum camphora, Ocimum basilicum, Chenopodium ambrosioides, and seeds of Pimpinella anisum. Their adulticidal activities and effects on the F 1 progeny of Trogoderma granarium (Everts) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) were evaluated. The chemical composition of the plant oils were identified by gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry (MS). All of the tested botanicals showed insecticidal activities against the test insects in a dose-dependent manner with T. granarium was more susceptible to the tested plant products than T. castaneum. At a concentration of 5 g kg-1 , many of the plant powders caused 100% mortality of both insects after 14 days of exposure. The powders of C. cam-phora, O. basilicum, and C. ambrosioides were effective against T. granarium, while that of C. ambrosioides caused 100% adult mortality of T. castaneum under the same assays conditions. A dose of 1.50 ml cm-2 of the oils of C. cam-phora and O. basilicum completely controlled T. granarium, while 100% mortality of T. castaneum adults was recorded with P. anisum oil. A significant and/or complete reduction (100% inhibition) of the F 1 progeny of both insects was obtained as a result of parental exposure to the tested botanicals, especially at the highest doses applied. Botani-cals under investigation showed a considerable grain protecting activity against the tested insect species and could be included in integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.
The intensive use of pesticides in agro-ecosystem has now become a need of time. Complete and immediate eradication of pests and weeds is first priority of any farmer. Pesticides are no doubt helpful in control of crop pests but on the... more
The intensive use of pesticides in agro-ecosystem has now become a need of time. Complete and immediate eradication of pests and weeds is first priority of any farmer. Pesticides are no doubt helpful in control of crop pests but on the other hand residues in soil make the life endangered for soil fauna. The springtails (collembolans), mites, ants and earthworms take part in process of decomposition in soil environments by making the organic matter break down and nutrients release easier. So the current study was performed to investigate the effect of application of insecticides on soil micro-biota including collembola, mites, staphylinids and earwigs in a sugarcane field. Three varieties of sugarcane were sown. Then the population sampling for soil fauna was carried out. Firstly, the population readings were taken before sowing of crop to evaluate the abundance of soil biota on the site of study. Then after sowing and before germination of crop readings were taken to examine the population trend in the field. Sampling of soil fauna was done with help of pit fall traps. Carbofuran (Furadan ®) was used as pesticide whose effect was examined against soil fauna. Fluctuations in populations of soil fauna was examined as a response of soil toxicity. Later on, the data was subjected to suitable statistical techniques. Various levels of doses of carbofuran had statistically significant difference among them with respect to mortality effects on soil dwelling collembolan, staphylinids, earwigs and mites. The population of soil biota was significantly reduced in over dose treated plots after 10, 20 and 30 days of application of carbofuran. Like after 10 days of first application of carbofuran the highest populations of collembolans, staphylinids, earwigs and mites were 53.
