Susceptibility and Relative Toxicity of Certain Phyto-Extracts against Lemon Caterpillars, Papilio demoleus (Linn.)

Author: Yogendra Pal Singh and Ramakant

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Abstract

Traditional chemical insecticides (inorganic or synthetic) have an inherent toxicity which are fatal to human beings, other animals, and environment, because these chemical insecticides are non bio-degradable as they reached in to the food chain and cause several disorders and diseases in human and animals. These chemical pesticides are responsible for degradation of soil structure. But toxin or bio-pesticides of plant origin are the formulations of natural derivatives from plants products that possessed insecticidal properties in them. These are risk free, eco-friendly, bio-degradable and do not reached into the food chain to cause any hazards to human and other beneficial animals. These properties of bio-pesticides lead to their utilization to the fullest in order to save the environment as well as ensuring quality of life. It is the need of today to promote the use of bio-pesticides in all kinds of agricultural practices to meet the environmental challenges particularly health related ones. No immunity can be glimpsed in insect pests against them. Several plants possess toxicity in their roots, shoots, leaves and fruits also having much susceptibility to insect pests. The susceptibility of certain plant extracts, viz. Nicotiana tabacum (Tobacco), Derris elliptica (Derris), Ricinus communis (Caster) and Papaver somniferum (Opium), isolated by Soxhlet extraction with organic solvents were tested against the larvae of lemon butterfly, Papilio demoleus in laboratory conditions. The results indicated that tobacco extract was found the most superior to the other plants extracts tested.

Keywords

Natural derivatives, eco-friendly, susceptibility, plants extracts, bio-degradable

Conclusion

From the present study it can be concluded that the hazardous impacts of using chemical insecticides badly affect the entire ecosystem since it has definite circulation in the food chain, thus reaches at all possible levels and causes significant negative impact. To meet the challenges of today, the regular utilization of bio-pesticides has to be promoted at large scale to control insect pests. As far as the susceptibility of various plant extracts against the larvae of lemon butterfly is concerned, certain plant extracts, viz., Nicotiana tabacum (Tobacco), Derris elliptica (Derris), Ricinus communis (Caster) and Papaver somniferum (Opium), isolated by Soxhlet extraction with organic solvents were tested against the larvae of lemon butterfly, Papilio demoleus in laboratory conditions. The results indicated that tobacco extract was found the most superior to the other plants extracts tested. Lemon butterfly causes great loss to the citrus crop, therefore, as suggested by present study the regular use of various plant extracts in the form of bio-pesticide could be of great importance not only for saving this valuable crop but also to enhance economy of the nation.

References

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How to cite this article

Yogendra Pal Singh and Ramakant (2023). Susceptibility and Relative Toxicity of Certain Phyto-Extracts against Lemon Caterpillars, Papilio demoleus (Linn.). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(5): 1584-1588.