The Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) is an economic oligophagous pest that feeds on the members of the Brassicaceae family. Cabbage as one of the brassicas is mostly targeted by the larvae of P. xylostella in tropical countries including Papua New Guinea (PNG). Attempts to control this pest continue to be a challenge for farmers since it is now resistant to commonly used synthetic insecticides. Chili (Capsicum frutescens L.) in particular is an insecticidal plant that has been proven to reduce the impact of pests including P. xylostella. Previous studies have focused on the extraction of chili phytochemicals with ethanol as an extraction solvent (tincture). The current study experimentally tested the potential of hot water chili extract. Tincture chili extract was relatively more effective than hot water extract against P. xylostella. The current study further confirms that the absence of chili extracts in dry conditions enhances the recruitment of the pest, P. xylostella. Furthermore, the tincture extract was also capable of withstanding rainy days due to its adhesive phytochemicals.
Keywords: Plutella xylostella, tincture, hotwater, rainfall, relative humidity
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