A comparative study on the efficacy of nano-formulated Melia azedarach (L.) ethanolic extract and cyantraniliprole in controlling greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood) populations

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The greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hem.: Aleyrodidae), is a highly reproductive polyphagous pest that affects a wide range of ornamental and greenhouse plants. This study assessed the insecticidal efficacy of a specific ethanol extract formulation from Melia azedarach fruit (DMSO-Melia) and cyantraniliprole against the egg and nymph stages of T. vaporariorum under laboratory conditions. The DMSO-Melia formulation, which reduced particle size, showed enhanced insecticidal activity. The results indicated that neither treatment had a significant impact on egg hatch rates. In the nymph mortality experiments, two separate observations were made. The first showed a mortality rate of 52.97 ± 6.80% for cyantraniliprole and 29.58 ± 3.58% for DMSO-Melia. The second observation revealed mortality rates of 59.45 ± 7.14% for cyantraniliprole and 39.00 ± 5.33% for DMSO-Melia. The cyantraniliprole treatment significantly increased nymph mortality compared to DMSO-Melia in both experiments (p ≤ 0.05). While cyantraniliprole was more effective in inducing nymph mortality, the DMSO-Melia formulation demonstrated promising results.