A comparative bioefficacy of seed and root extracts of a medicinal plant, Withania somnifera when administered to prepupae of lepidopteran insects, Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Pericallia ricini (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)

Abstract

Background: The lepidopterans, Spodoptera litura and Pericallia ricini, are polyphagous pests of agricultural importance. The unscrupulous and non-judicious use of chemical pesticides for controlling the insect pests has resulted into severe environmental hazards, threatening non-target organisms and human health. Results: Administration of seed and root extracts of a medicinal plant, Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) to prepupae of two economically important insect pests viz. S. litura and P. ricini resulted into disruption of molting and metamorphosis leading to a number of developmental aberrations such as prolongation of the life span of prepupae, postponement of pupal-adult ecdysis, ecdysial failure, reduced pupation and adult emergence, formation of larval-pupal and pupal-adult intermediates, abnormal pupae, and adultoids. Treatment with seed extracts of W. somnifera was more effective as it alone caused mortality in both the lepidopteran insects viz. S. litura and P. ricini, whereas no such effect was observed when treated with root extracts. P. ricini was more susceptible to W. somnifera as it resulted into formation of larval-pupal-adult chimeras in addition to effects described earlier, whereas this effect was not observed in the case of S. litura. Conclusion: These results are similar to these produced by the administration of JHAs and hence mimic their action by the way of interfering with the neuroendocrine system.

COMPARATIVE BIOACTIVITY OF PLANT EXTRACTS AND SYNTHETIC INSECT GROWTH REGULATORS AGAINST Spodoptera litura (F.) (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE)

“…According to Ahmed et al (1981), insecticidal potentials and biological activity A. indica extract caused deformation of emerged adults in Musca domestica. Such kind of detrimental effect has also been observed by Gaur & Kumar (2019) in S. litura treated with medicinal plant, Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera).…”

Growth Inhibitory Activity of <i>Annona squamosa</i> against Polyphagous Pest <i>Spodoptera litura</i> (F)

“…Nenotek et al (2022) reported that the methanol extract of A. Similarly, Root and seed extracts of Withania somnifera were tested against S. litura and Pericallia ricini at doses of 5, 10, 15, and 20 µg/ ml which revealed an abnormal pupae, delayed pupal-adult ecdysis, reduced pupation and adult emergence (Gaur et al, 2019). Shaalan et al (2005) reported that many botanicals have an effect on insect development, growth, and adult emergence.…”

Methanolic Extract of Winter Cherry Causes Morpho-Histological and Immunological Ailments in Mulberry Pyralid Glyphodes pyloalis

“…The extract of various parts in W. somnifera has been reported as a potent insect growth regulator ( Gaur and Kumar, 2017 , 2018 ; Gaur and Kumar, 2019 ). The current study has focused on different effects of methanolic seed extract of this plant exerted on an important pest of mulberry.…”

“…The same authors also reported increased larval, pupal and adult duration after incorporation of root extract. Morphological and various growth disorders have been recorded in Spodoptra litura Fab (Lep: Noctuidae) (Gaur and Kumar, 2019).The prepupal treatment by root and seed extracts on S. litura and Peicalliaa ricini Fab (Lep: Arcttidae) showed that the seed extract exhibited mortality but not the root extract (Gaur and Kumar, 2020). Winter cherry extracts (aqueous suspension, ether and water) of roots, stems, leaves and fruits have been used against Callosobruchus chinensis L (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) adults where a 63.33% mortality have been observed using 10% ether extracts of its roots (Gupta and Srivastava, 2008).…”

“…The same authors also reported increased larval, pupal and adult duration after incorporation of root extract. Morphological and various growth disorders have been recorded in Spodoptra litura Fab (Lep: Noctuidae) ( Gaur and Kumar, 2019 ). The prepupal treatment by root and seed extracts on S. litura and Peicalliaa ricini Fab (Lep: Arcttidae) showed that the seed extract exhibited mortality but not the root extract ( Gaur and Kumar, 2020 ).…”