Anzeiger für Schädlingskunde, Pflanzenschutz, Umweltschutz (1997) 70, 4-12

G.H. Schmidt, Adel A.I. Ahmed and M. Breuer (1997)
Effect of Melia azedarach extract on larval development and reproduction parameters of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) and Agrotis ipsilon (Hufn.) (Lep. Noctuidae)
Anzeiger für Schädlingskunde, Pflanzenschutz, Umweltschutz 70 (1), 4-12
Abstract: Methanolic extract of Melia azedarach fruits enriched by washing with petrolether and ethyl acetate was used for laboratory treatments of two lepidopteran pests in Egypt. The experiments were carried out with concentrations of 10, 15, 25, 50, 100 and 1000 ppm in a diet and compared with control insects. In both insects, food consumption, weight gain and conversion of ingested food (ECI) in body matter decreased with increasing extract amounts. The conversion of digested food (ECD) was lowered gradually by using higher concentrations of Melia extract. Some antifeedant activity was observed in larvae of S. littoralis and A. ipsilon. The percentage of mortality increased with application of higher concentrations of Melia extract in both species. Starting from 3rd larval instar the larvae of both species reduced significantly their weight until pupation in 25 ppm and higher extract concentrations, while the larval period was prolonged. The pupal weight was significantly reduced at 15, 25 and 50 ppm. At higher concentrations the larvae failed to pupate. Duration of pupal period was affected only in A. ipsilon. All reproduction parameters, as period of oviposition, fecundity, fertility and longevity of males and females were affected using emerged adults from treated larvae with concentrations of 10, 15 and 25 ppm Melia extract. In S. littoralis no adult emerged from pupae originated from larvae treated with 50 ppm and higher amounts and no larva hatched from eggs laid by adults treated with 25 ppm Melia concentration as larvae. In both species the oviposition period was shortened at 15 and 25 ppm extract, the fecundity and fertility were drastically reduced, and the longevity of males and females was reduced. Cross sections of the midgut showed that the epithelial cells are destroyed in both pests. This can be one of the reasons for the observed effects.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Agrotis ipsilon		Egypt
	Spodoptera littoralis		Egypt