Bioactivity of Moringa oleifera and Ruta angustifolia Oils on Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) Moths’ Vitality

Abstract

Spodoptera littoralis, cotton leafworm is a destructive pest for several economic crops. The more use of chemical pesticide the more increase of this pest resistance, that lead to discovering new natural pesticides from plant extracts and oils. The present search is targeted to suggest alternative components from natural sources that more safety to the ecosystem and had the ability to reduce insect prohibition. The experimental results exhibited highly significance effect on adult moths' vitality aspects with the pre-pupal treatments by Moringa oleifera and Ruta angustifolia at all tested concentration especially 4% concentration as shorten female moths' longevity and reduced the oviposition period. Obviously, moringa recorded the shortest oviposition period (3.00 days) while ruta oil recorded (5.33 days) compared to control (10.66 days). Significantly reduced fecundity and hatchability and increased the sterility% compared to control. The tested plant oils caused severe ovarian and testicular histological deformation and significant increase in total lipids and total carbohydrate contents also, marked DNA fragmentation in variable levels in ovaries and testes in each oil treatments at 4% concentration. The promising results of both oils on S. littoralis reproductive system can prove them be used in the integrated management programs of this pest.