Efficacy of Anti-termite Extracts from Four Saharan Plants against the Harvester Termite, Anacanthotermes ochraceus

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the anti-termite potential of four Saharan plant extracts, namely, the apple of Sodom or rubber bush, Calotropis procera; pergularia, Pergularia tomentosa; jimsonweed, Datura stramonium, and Egyptian henbane, Hyoscyamus muticus from Bechar (southwest of Algeria) on workers of the harvester termite, Anacanthotermes ochraceus (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae). A direct contact application test was conducted with five fractions from aqueous extracts of each part of plant species (leaves, stems) using hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol, and exhausted fraction. A repellent test was realized with aqueous extracts (10%) of plant species leaves and stems. According to the direct contact application test, all tested plants fractions showed termiticidal activities with different degrees. Butanolic fractions presented the best effects from leaves of C. procera and P. tomentosa with median lethal time (LT50) = 231.03 and 244.96 min, respectively. In the second test, wood samples were exposed to termite attack for four weeks, and the weight loss percentage was determined. The weight loss ranged from 0.034 to 16.90% at concentrations of 10% of plant extracts. The best repellent effect was obtained from leaves of C. procera (weight loss = 0.034%) and leaves of D. stramonium (weight loss = 1.29%). It was concluded that some Saharan plants are a good source of anti-termite compounds, especially C. procera.

Prostaglandin A3 regulates the colony development of Odontotermes formosanus by reducing worker proportion

“…Physical barriers are well-used to protect small buildings, although they are expensive [ 13 ]. Chemical termiticides such as aldrin, dieldrin, fipronil, and thiamethoxam were once widely used for subterranean termite control because of their efficacy and cost-effectiveness [ 8 , 10 , 14 ]. However, these chemicals cannot control damage to non-targeted organisms and cause ecological risks [ 15 , 16 ].…”

Evaluation of Effect of Ocimum Gratissimum (Lamiaceae) Extracts on Nasutitermes Termite, Cocoa Pests in Côte d'Ivoire

“…Several studies have shown that termites of this genus are the main pests of cocoa trees in Côte d'Ivoire [4,5]. Pesticidal plants represent, to date, the oldest form of pest control in agriculture [6]. With the advent of synthetic pesticides in 1940 and the spectacular results that were obtained with their use, the use of plants for pest control was relegated to the background and defined as a traditional method [7,8].…”