Crude ethanolic seed extracts of A. squamosa (Annonaceae), collected from different locations and years in Mollucas, Indonesia showed significant growth inhibitory effects on larva of Spodoptera litura,(Noctuidae). Aqueous solutions of ethanolic extracts as well as direct aqueous extracts of A. squamosa pooled from different locations and years were tested on diamondback moth,Plutella xylostella(Yponomeutidae). A drench assay used on neonate and 2nd instar P. xylostella larva resulted in LC50 values of 0.04 and 0.05% (w/v) respectively for aqueous solutions of ethanolic extracts and 0.3 and 0.9 % (w/v) respectively for aqueous extracts. LC 50 values for 3rd and 4th instars larvae were 0.6 and 1% (w/v) respectively when a leaf dip assay was employed using aqueous solutions and 17 and 32 % (w/v) respectively using aqueous extracts. Efficacy was tested in a greenhouse against diamondback moth larvae on cabbage plants. At 1 % (w/v), aqueous ethanolic extract give 90 % mortality of larvae, 1.3 fold higher than mortality caused by 1% rotenone dust. Crude extracts of A. squamosa show potential for the development of botanical insecticides for local use in Indonesia.
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA