Insectoacaricidal and deterrent activities of extracts of Kyrgyzstan plants against three agricultural pests

Abstract

The 139 extracts from 123 plant species of 38 families of the Kyrgyzstan flora were assessed for their insectoacaricidal and behavior-modifying activities against three species of phytophagous pests: the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis Perg. (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), the twospotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) and the grain aphid Shizaphis graminum Rond. (Homoptera: Aphididae). Western flower thrips larvae were found to be highly tolerant to the plant extracts. The most active extracts against the spider mite were Ailanthus altissima L. (leaves) and roots of Convolvulus krauseanus Regel. and Schmalh., against the grain aphid – of Anabasis aphylla L., roots of Ungernia severtzovii (Regel) B. Fedtsch. and Ferula foetida (Bunge) Regel, and against the thrips – of the Silene sussamyrica Lazkov (aerial part). Extracts from these plants caused significant pest mortality, reduced reproductive potential and deterred pests from feeding on suitable host plants. Extracts of these plants could serve as the foundation for the development of new botanical insecticides.