03 Ara 2024 Salı
Assessment of Datura metel, local soap and garlic (Allium sativum) in the management of Termite (Termitidae: Isoptera)
Abstract :The study investigated the efficacy of extracts from Datura metel, local soap and garlic in the management of Macrotermes bellicosus. The synthetic insecticide (chlorpyrifos 0.1%) and water were included in the study as controls. In the laboratory, contact toxicity was conducted using the standard method described by Mc Donald et al. (1970). The treatments (10 ml each) were applied to the thorax of worker termite and insect mortality was noted. The repellent action of the treatment was based on an area preference test described by McDonald et al. (1970) and Landani et al. (1955). The “test area” was Whatman filter paper cut into equal halves and placed in a plastic Petri dish. One half was treated with the treatment and the other half with water (control). Four termites were released into the centre of the Petri dishes and the number of insect present on the control (NC) and treatment (NT) halves were recorded after 1hour exposure and percentage repellence (PR) values were computed. The efficacy of the treatments at managing termite populations in the field was tested on five average-sized termitaria. They were demolished and dug 40 – 50 cm below ground level. Five litres each of the treatments was applied to a termitaria with knapsack sprayer and resurgence/rebuilding of termitaria was observed as from the 2nd day till the 90th day. The results showed that all the treatments had repellence value of between 75% - 100 % and caused 100 % mean insect mortality in the laboratory. On the field only D. metel and chlorpyrifos were effective at preventing the upsurge and rebuilding of termitaria for 90 days. Datura metel could be used as an eco-friendly botanical for the management of termites in the field
Datura metel, garlic, mortality, repellence, synthetic insecticide, termitaria