The quest for sustainable health, environmental protection, and the conservation of beneficial organisms makes the use of biopesticides a desirable option. This research aimed to identify the botanicals used in the management of farm and household pests in Plateau State, Nigeria. A cross sectional study was carried out using semi-structured questionnaires and on-the-spot, face-to-face interviews. The main issues captured include the pests, the plants used to manage the pest, the parts used, the cultivation status, the availability, the effects on the pests, the indigenous formulation methods, and the modes of application. The quantitative data were analyzed using the Frequency of Citation (FC), Relative Frequency of Citation RFC (%), and Use Value (UV). A total of 45 plant species belonging to 42 genera, 20 orders, and 30 families were found to be useful in the management of 15 different pests. The FC, RFC (%), and UV values identified the most popularly used plants as Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze, Gymnanthemum amygdalinum (Delile) Sch.Bip., Azadirachta indica A. Juss, Canarium schweinfurthii Engl., Euphorbia unispina N.E.Br., and Erythrophloem africanum (Benth.) Harms. The plants that showed broad uses by the ethnic groups include Azadirachta indica A. Juss (7 uses), Erythrophloem africanum (Benth.) Harms, Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss., and Gymnanthemum amygdalinum (Delile) Sch.Bip. The perception of the respondents indicated that most of the biopesticides are available, affordable, effective, eco-friendly, and safe. This survey provides a pathway for the formulation of stable biopesticides.

The quest for sustainable health, environmental protection and conservation of beneficial organisms makes the use of biopesticides a desirable option. This research aimed to identify botanicals used in the management of farm and household pest in Plateau State, Nigeria. A cross sectional study was carried out using semi-structured questionnaires and on the spot face-to-face interviews. The main issues captured include the pest, plants used to managed the pest, parts used, cultivation status, availability, effect on pest, formulation methods and modes of application. The quantitative data were analyzed using the Frequency of Citation (FC), Relative Frequency of Citation RFC (%) and Use Value (UV). A total of 45 plant species belonging to 42 genera, 20 orders and 30 families were found to be useful in the management of 15 different pests. The FC, RFC(%) and UV values identified the most popularly used plants as: Hyptis suaveolens, Vernonia amygdalina, Azadirachta indica, Canarium schweinfurthii and Euphorbia unispina and Erythrophloem africanum. Plants that showed broad activity include Azadirachta indica (7 uses), Erythrophloem africanum, Khaya senegalensis and Vernonia amygdalina. The perception of the respondents indicated that most of the biopesticides are available, affordable, effective, eco-friendly and safe. This survey provides a pathway for formulation of biopesticides.

Background Environmental concerns over the use of large quantities of synthetic insecticides for termite control owing to the huge pollution burdens and modern environmental health hazards (MEHH) of such chemicals on non-target living beings and other environmental element. To reduce the burden of such chemicals on the environment, the use of plant-based extracts to control termites could be an effective alternative if properly explored. One such plant with potential for anti-termite activity was assessed in this study. Result The phytochemical evaluation indicated high presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids and steroids in the stem-bark, while anthraquinones, saponins, tannins and terpenes were observed in the leaf extract. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of twenty-five compounds and thirty-four compounds in the leaf and stem bark extract respectively. On the other hand, the termiticidal activity of the leaf and stembark extracts was more against Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar (Subterranean) termites than Reticulitermes tibialis (Arid Land Subterranean) termites. Further study revealed that a concentration of 30.35 mg/L and 183.31 mg/L of the leaf extract was required to knock-off 50% and 90% of the Reticulitermes tibialis termites respectively, while a concentration of 40.76 mg/L was required to knock-off 50% and 66.19 mg/L is needed to knock-off 90% of the Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar termites Similarly, for 50% of the Reticulitermes tibialis termites to be knocked-off, 48.20 mg/L of the stembark extract was required. To achieve higher mortality of the termites (90%) of the Reticulitermes tibialis termites, 243.26 mg/L of the stembark was required. Concentrations of 33.24 mg/L and 54.35 mg/L of the stembark were required to knock-off 50% and 90% of the Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar termites respectively. E. africanum ethanol leaf and stembark extracts can be classified as Category 4 which gives the indication of moderate acute toxicity hazard. Conclusion E. africanum extract will therefore, serve as a safe, efficacious and environmentally friendly pesticide for use against termites.