Antifeedent activity of plant extracts on larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda

GÓMEZ ANALIA; DÍAZ BIBIANA; PASCUAL ALEJANDRA; VILLAGRA JOSEFINA; SOSA ANDREA MABEL; BORKOSKY SUSANA ALICIA; VERA NANCY ROXANA

BIOCELL

INST HISTOL EMBRIOL-CONICET

Lugar: Mendoza; Año: 2011 vol. 35 p. 114 - 114

0327-9545

Plant extracts have been used as insecticides since ancient times. In many regions, this practice has continued across generations and represents a renewable resource, more accessible and cheaper than synthetic chemical insecticides. Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a polyphagous pest that causes severe damage to crops in our region. The purpose of this study was the investigation of the antifeedant activity of chloroform, ethereal, ethyl acetate, petroleum ether and methanol extracts from the aerial parts and roots of 15 plant species on S. frugiperda larvae. We evaluated the insect feeding behavior in choice and no choice conditions, at a concentration of 300 μg/ g diet. Choice tests showed a strong antifeedant effect of chloroform and ether extracts of aerial parts, resulting in inhibition of food intake in percentages above 60%. Parastrephia lepidophylla ether extract was the most active, with values of IIA (antifeedant index) = 90%. In feeding trials with no choice, the inhibition of intake was significantly lower. Our results suggest that studies on isolation and identification of plant extracts constituents should be undertaken to obtain additional information about the natural products responsible for the activity observed. This is an important step in developing rational methods of pest control.