THE ACTIVITY OF JUNIPERUS PROCERA STEM EXTRACTS AS PESTICIDES AGAINST THE BLOWFLY CHRYSOMYA ALBICEPS (DIPTERA: CALLIPHORIDAE)

Elsheikh, Tarek M. Y.; Abu EL-Ghiet, Usama M.; Alhuraysi, Abdullah M. S.

doi:10.21608/ejz.2022.112699.1067

THE ACTIVITY OF JUNIPERUS PROCERA STEM EXTRACTS AS PESTICIDES AGAINST THE BLOWFLY CHRYSOMYA ALBICEPS (DIPTERA: CALLIPHORIDAE)

Document Type : Original Research Papers

Authors

¹ Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

² Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia

³ Plant Protection Department, Desert Research Center, Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/ejz.2022.112699.1067

Abstract

The blowfly (Chrysomya albiceps) larvae cause cutaneous myiasis in humans/animals. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the pesticidal activity of Juniperus procera stem extracts on the 1^st instar larvae of C. albiceps to minimize their spread. The tested petroleum ether, acetone, and methanol extracts of J. procera stem showed toxic effects against the C. albiceps larvae, which were mostly dependent on the solvent type and the extract concentration. The larval mortality was found to increase as the concentration of plant extract increased. Petroleum ether extract of J. procera stem had a highly toxic effect at the highest concentration (0.4 g/mL) against the larvae (83.3%; LC₅₀ = 0.15 g/mL), followed by methanol extract (63.3%; LC₅₀ = 0.24 g/mL) and acetone extract (43.3%; LC₅₀ = 0.53 g/mL). Acetone extract of J. procera stem had a delayed toxic effect on the pupae resulting from the treated larvae. The toxicity of all J. procera stem extracts was extended to the adults that resulted from the treated larvae. Larval and pupal durations were affected significantly (P<0.05) by methanol and acetone extracts of J. procera stem. All J. procera stem extracts exhibited remarkable effects on the fecundity, fertility, and sterility index of C. albiceps adult females resulting from larval treatment. Moreover, malformations among pupae and adults of C. albiceps were observed after treating the larvae with acetone and petroleum ether extracts of J. procera stem. Therefore, J. procera has promising efficacy to develop as botanical pesticide for controlling the 1^st instar larvae of C. albiceps.

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