Insecticidal activities of two fig tree leaf extracts against the cotton pest Spodoptera litura (Fab.) and their impact on the non‐target red worm Eisenia foetida (Savigny)

Abstract

Extracts of botanical origin naturally contain a complex mixture of chemicals considered effective in managing lepidopteran pests. Chemical screening of the ethanolic leaf extracts of two fig tree species, Ficus lyrata and Ficus auriculata, delivered 12 and 15 phyto‐compounds with relatively high peak area percentages in phytol and flavone, respectively. Larvicidal activity against Spodoptera litura yielded higher mortality rates at maximum‐concentration treatment (600 ppm) with Ficus lyrata (91.3%) and Ficus auriculata (98.5%) extracts during the second instar. Sub‐lethal dosages (300 ppm) of both Ficus lyrata and Ficus auriculata extracts impeded the development and reproduction of lepidopteran pests. The enzyme‐inhibition activity of both fig extracts elicited a significant reduction in the major digestive enzymes alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase dose‐responsively. Mid‐gut histological screening of Ficus lyrata and Ficus auriculata extracts displayed gut lumen disruptions, shape alterations of columnar cells, and brush‐border membrane damage. Further, the non‐target toxicity of fig extracts against the red worm Eisenia foetida was minimal compared with that of the chemical temephos. Overall, the Ficus extracts proved to be eco‐friendly strategies for managing the polyphagous pest Spodoptera litura and are potentially more sustainable and less harmful to non‐target earthworms. Nonetheless, in silico predictions suggest that the active compounds in fig extracts are predominantly toxic against honeybees (16 compounds) and violate TICE rules (10 compounds). Therefore, the biological actions of fig extracts' individual novel chemistries need to be examined on target and non‐target species to develop better pest management strategies.