Abstract

TOXICITY AND REPELLENCY OF Citrus maxima ESSENTIAL OIL BASED COMBINATORIAL FORMULATIONS AGAINST Odontotermes obesus

Lokpriy Pandey and Ravi Kant Upadhyay*

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Abstract

In the present study experimental bioassays were conducted determine the toxicity and repellency of plant essential oil based formulations in Indian white termite. In anti-termite assays crude oil and extracts were used in different combinatorial mixtures for treatment of termites. In subsequent bioassays crude essential oils, and combinatorial mixtures have shown significant toxicity and repellency against O. obesus. The LD50 values at 24 hrs in various formulations obtained were in a range of 12.736 – 702.489 μg/gm. A clear synergistic activity was seen in combined mixtures of Citrus essential oil against termites. From results it is clear that plant essential oil 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 essential oil based formulations showed strong anti-termite potential as natural pesticides. These plant origin pesticides are 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: In the present study experimental bioassays were conducted determine the toxicity and repellency of plant essential oil based formulations in Indian white termite. In anti-termite assays crude oil and extracts were used in different combinatorial mixtures