The Insecticidal Potential of Azadirachta indica and Phaleria macrocarpa Plant Extracts against Pineapple Mealybug, Dysmicoccus brevipes (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

Abstract

Crude extracts from neem, Azadirachta indica, and God's crown, Phaleria macrocarpa, were tested at two concentrations, 5% and 10% for the insecticidal activity against pineapple mealybugs, Dysmicoccus brevipes under laboratory conditions. In this study, synthetic insecticide; dimethoate and commercial neem were used as positive control while water was used as a negative control. All treatments were applied using the topical bioassay method in five replications. In 24 hours after treatment, no mortality was recorded in all treatments. Only after 48 hours, 52% and 28% mortality were recorded in the sample treated with 10% and 5% of A. indica extract. Dysmicoccus brevipes treated with 10% A. indica extract, showed 100% mortality at 72 hours while the sample treated with dimethoate reached 100% mortality at 120 hours after treatment. In conclusion, the 10% of A. indica extract showed higher potency in comparison to other treatments including dimethoate, commercial neem and P. macrocarpa extract.