Repellent and Toxic Effects of some Plant Extracts on Subterranean Termite Psammotermes hybostoma (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Abstract

The current study was conducted to evaluate the toxicity and repellent effects of ethanolic extracts of Lantana camara, Moringa oleifera, Rhazya stricta and Ruta chalepensis on subterranean termite, Psammotermes hybostoma. All the tested extracts demonstrated noticeable toxicities, however, L. camara and R. stricta showed relatively more toxic effects, at 24 h and 48 h with LC50s of 177.5, 131.5 mg.kg-1 and 199.8, 140.3 mg.kg-1, respectively. Toxic effect was observed to be dependent on dose as well as exposure-time. No significant differences were observed between L. camara, R. sricta and positive control fipronil 2.5EC. Moreover, L. camara and R. stricta extracts, at 500 mg.kg-1, showed potential repellent effects on P. hybostoma (Desneux) with repellency of 88.3 and 81.67%, respectively. Our work highlights the importance of screening the plant-based products for anti-termites’ activity. We suggest that tested plants could possibly provide an alternative means for termite control strategies in protecting the economically important crops