TITLE:
Insecticidal Activity of an Indian Botanical Insecticide ULTRA ACT® against the Olive Pest Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Tunisia
AUTHORS:
Imen Blibech, Mohieddine Ksantini, Manohar Shete
KEYWORDS:
Olive Insect Pest, Bactrocera oleae, Indian Botanical Insecticide Ultra-Act, In-secticidal Activity, Contact, Fumigation
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Chemical Engineering and Science,
Vol.10 No.1,
January
20,
2020
ABSTRACT: Bactrocera oleae is the most
economically damaging insect of olive in the Mediterranean. As a reliable
alternative to synthetic chemical insecticides, botanical pesticides from plant
extracts are also considered natural control methods safe for the environment
and human health. In practical applications up to date, studies demonstrating
toxically effects of biological control agents on the insect have been carried
out in organic farming systems based on some industrial microbial formulations.
But much less attention has been given to botanical insecticides against B.
oleae. Thus, a certified botanical insecticide issue from various plants
and approved per Indian and International organic standards was tested against
larvae and pupae of the olive pest Bactrocera oleae in the east of
Tunisia under laboratory conditions. The experiments were conducted with 3
normal treatments and 1 control. Two techniques were used for larvae and pupae:
direct contact using concentration from 0.5; 0.750; 1 and 1.5 mg/l and fumigation
treatment using 2 mg/l conducted in rectangular boxes (25°C - 27°C, 75% - 85% RH and
14:10 LD photo period). For larval stages, LC50 and LC90 values for Ultra-Act
were 0.45 and 1.22 mg/L in direct contact and 1.5 - 2 mg/l with fumigation,
respectively. For pupal stage, the ID25 and ID50 values were estimated to be
0.71 mg and 1.26 mg respectively corresponding to the inhibition of emergence
of 25% and 50% of B. oleae adults from pupa. Our results indicate that
sprayed Ultra-Act product has the potential to control the three olive fly
instar larvae. Pupal emergency was decreased significantly with fumigation
treatment. In conclusion, Ultra-Act is a promising botanical insecticide
against B. oleae that could be used as a successful alternative for chemicals
in integrated control methods of this pest in Tunisia.