Abstract

TOXICITY AND REPELLENCY OF FICUS BENGHALENSIS LATEX BASED COMBINATORIAL FORMULATIONS IN ODONTOTERMES OBESUS THE INDIAN WHITE TERMITE

Abhishek Kumar Tripathi and Ravi Kant Upadhyay*

Abstract

In present research investigations toxicity and repellency in Ficus benghalensis plant latexes was seen in Indian white termite (Odontotermes obesus). In various anti-termite bioassays crude plant latex and extracts were used in different combinatorial mixtures for treatment of termites. In treatments LD50 values obtained at 24 h were in a range of 11.887– 717.609μg/gm. These have shown significant toxicity and repellency in workers and soldier termites. Addition of inorganic and other materials to latex induced synergistic action against termites. From results it is clear that plant latex based combinatorial formulations have shown very high lethality in Odontotermes obesus. This is proved by very low LD 50 values obtained in each case. These latex based formulations might be highly useful in control of not only termites but also for the control of insect pest of field crops and garden trees. These are less hazardous, non persistent, eco-friendly and provide long lasting insect control.

Keywords: Odontotermes obesus; Ficus benghalensis latexes; combinatorial formulations, toxicity; repellency and synergistic effects.