Insecticidal Effect of Weeds Extract in the Poultry Pest Alphitobius diaperinus.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> <i>Alphitobius diaperinus</i> (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is the major pest in chicken farms. The control of pests using synthetic insecticides is not recommended. Besides its expensive, synthetic insecticides are proved harmful to poultry health, farmworkers and polluting the environment. To explore the sources of bioinsecticides that are cheap and eco-friendly, this study was conducted to evaluate the insecticidal effect of weeds extracts (<i>Chromolaena odorata</i>, <i>Ageratum conyzoides</i> and <i>Tithonia diversifolia</i>) against post-embryonic survival of <i>A. diaperinus</i>. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The experimental study using a completely randomized design of 2 factors, i.e., 3 types of weeds extract and 6 levels of concentration. The insecticidal effect was observed based on the post-embryonic survival. The post-embryonic survival of larvae was evaluated for 4 weeks by measuring the number of Larvae Released (LR) from the eggs, as well as the number of Adults Emergence (AE). Data were analyzed using Variance Analysis (ANOVA) and continued with the least significant different tests (α<u><</u>0.5). <b>Results:</b> The statistical analysis showed that the differences in extract concentration contributed significant influence (α<u><</u>0.05) on the total number of larvae released and adult emergence. The lowest LR and AE occurred at the 40% concentration level, i.e., on the extract of <i>T. diversifolia</i>, while the highest LR and AE were found in the treatment of <i>C. odorata</i> extract. <b>Conclusion:</b> In this study, all types of extracts have an insecticidal effect on the post-embryonic survival of <i>A. diaperinus</i> but the strongest effect was found in the extract of <i>T. diversifolia</i> in 40% concentration. At last, these findings inform people that the weeds extract, especially <i>T. diversifolia</i> is possible to be developed as bioinsecticides for <i>A. diaperinus</i>.

Antifeedant Effect of Some Medicinal Plant Extracts Against Rice Weevil.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: At present, insecticides with raw materials of active compounds from plants have become a strategic alternative, because they are easily obtained and produced. In an attempt to find natural and cheaper methods for the control of rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae L.), some useless waste of local medicinal plant extracts was evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the antifeedant effect of various medicinal plant extracts on rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae L.). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experimental study using a completely randomized design of two factors, i.e., source of the extract in 7 types of medicinal plant waste and the exposure time of extracts in 0, 1, 2 and 3 h. The antifeedant effects were evaluated after 3 weeks by measuring feed consumption (FC), feeding deterrent index (FDI) and rice weevils' mortality. Data were analyzed using variance analysis. RESULTS: The statistical analysis showed that the differences in exposure time contributed significant influence (α<0.05) on FC, FDI and mortality. The lowest FC occurred at the 3 h exposure treatment, i.e. on the extract of Amomum cardamom plant, while the highest FC was found in the treatment of Curcuma mangga plant extract. The values of FDI and mortality at the 3 h extract exposure were 31.53-87.16% and 42.4-64%, respectively with the highest value in the treatment of A. cardamomum. CONCLUSION: At last, these findings inform peoples that the waste of medicinal plants, especially cardamom is possible to be developed as botanical insecticides for rice weevils.

Biological Activity of Local Entomopathogenic Nematodes from Two Different Origins Based on Various Temperatures.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Biological activity such as reproduction rate, viability and pathogenicity of local entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are influenced by ecological factors, one of them is temperature. In order to prepare the biopesticides product, the study aimed to compare their production rate, viability and pathogenicity of EPNs from Semarang isolate and commercial biopesticide under various temperatures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was designed by Completely Randomized Design one-way classification. Both EPNs were cultured in vivo condition with Tenebrio molitor larvae by white trap method. The reproduction rate of nematodes was calculated after 8 days of incubation and its viability test at six storage temperatures. The EPNs with the best viability was further tested for its pathogenicity on Macrotermes sp. The reproduction rate of nematodes were analyzed by using student's t-test, while one-way ANOVA was used to analyze the viability of EPNs, and pathogenicity of lethal dose value was calculated using Probit analysis. RESULTS: The findings showed that the reproduction rate on EPNs from Semarang isolate was significantly higher (p<0.05) than EPNs from commercial biopesticide. Various temperatures significantly affected the viability on both nematodes, but under LSD test (p<0.05) revealed that viability at storage of 21, 24 and 27°C were not different of each other. CONCLUSION: The reproduction rate of EPNs from Semarang isolate was 35% higher than those originated from commercial biopesticide. The optimum viability of both EPNs was obtained at temperature ranged from 21-27°C. The LD50value of EPNs from Semarang isolate was better than nematodes originated from commercial biopesticide.

Effectiveness of Metarhizium anisopliae and Entomopathogenic Nematodes to Control Oryctes rhinoceros Larvae in the Rainy Season.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Metarhizium anisopliae (MET) and entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) are microorganisms that attack the larvae of Oryctes rhinoceros. The effects of MET, EPN and the combination of both on the O. rhinoceros larvae were studied during the rainy season in Jepara Indonesia. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Metarhizium anisopliae and entomopathogenic nematodes to control Oryctes rhinoceros larvae in the rainy season. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were four level doses of MET, four level doses of EPN and four mixture of MET and EPN. The experiment used 72 containers that were placed in the garden with coconut palm shade. Five kilograms of organic soil that was mixed with biological control agents (MET, EPN and MET+EPN) and ten O. rhinoceros larvae 3rd instar were put in each other container. The data were analyzed by descriptive analysis. RESULTS: Every larvae mortality was observed once a week and observations are for 8 weeks. The result showed that the larval mortality due to MET treatment occurred on 2nd-7th week. Meanwhile, the larval mortality due to EPN treatment took place on 2nd-8th weeks and the larval mortality due to MET+EPN treatment occurred on 1st-5th weeks. CONCLUSION: The combination of MET and EPN was simultaneously effective to control O. rhinoceros larvae than separate use of MET or EPN. Result of this study showed that using two agents of biocontrol was more effective, so that it can be beneficial for controlling O. rhinoceros larvae in the field.