Repellent Plants Research Articles

Oviposition Preferences of the Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Response to Various Potential Repellent and Attractant Plants

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a major polyphagous pest that mainly feeds on maize and other cash crops. Understanding S. frugiperda’s behavior on different host plants facilitates the development of effective integrated pest management (IPM) plans. Therefore, this study investigated the oviposition preferences of S. frugiperda females among different host plants using no-choice, two-choice, and multiple-choice bioassays. In no-choice bioassays, para grass, Urochloa mutica (Forssk.) (Poales: Poaceae); maize, Zea mays (L.) (Poales: Poaceae); and napier grass, Pennisetum purpureum (Schumach) (Poales: Poaceae) were identified as highly attractive, while sweet sorghum, Sorghum dochna (Forssk.) (Poales: Poaceae); sunhemp, Crotalaria juncea (L.) (Fabales:Fabacea); Egyptian clover, Trifolium alexandrinum (L.) (Fabales:Fabacea); desmodium, Desmodium uncinatum (Jacq.) (Fabales:Fabacea); natal grass, melinis repens (Zizka) (Poales: Poaceae); molasses grass, Melinis minutiflora (P.Beauv.) (Poales: Poaceae); and mung bean, Vigna radiata (R. wilczek) (Fabales: Fabaceae) exhibited reduced oviposition effects. Two-choice bioassays revealed different levels of attractiveness and repellency among different plant combinations. In multiple-choice bioassays, mimicking an intercropping scenario, differences in the number of eggs and egg mass were observed for M:S:D:W (maize, sunhemp, desmodium, and cage wall), S:D:M:W (sunhemp, desmodium, maize, and cage wall), and D:M:S:W (desmodium, maize, sunhemp, and cage wall). This study provides insights into the egg-laying preferences of S. frugiperda females among different host plants, valuable for the management of S. frugiperda. This encourages further research and further identification of novel repellent and attractant host plants, which will ultimately contribute to the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly crop production practices and techniques.

Host selection by thrips is affected by the floral volatile profile of sunflower.

Thrips, Frankliniella intonsa, is a highly polyphagous pest with a worldwide distribution. F. intonsa-infested sunflower seeds show marked visual damage. The study findings revealed that significantly more F. intonsa infested confection sunflower compared to oilseed sunflower, via olfactometer bioassay studies, we found that compared with the flower and pollen of oilseed sunflowers, those of confection sunflowers attract F. intonsa. Considering this discrepancy in the preference of F. intonsa on oilseed and confection sunflowers, the volatiles of the flower and pollens of two sunflowers were analysed bygas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The behavioural responses of F. intonsa were assessed for these compounds using Y-tube bioassays. Geranyl bromide, a unique volatile component of oilseed sunflowers, induced an assertive approach-avoidance behaviour in F. intonsa, whereas the unique component ethyl isovalerate in confection sunflowers attracted F. intonsa. F. intonsa adults demonstrated significant attraction to the blends of confection sunflowers. Furthermore, field verification revealed that intercropping confection and oilseed sunflowers could effectively control F. intonsa. The study provided insights into the chemical cues used by F. intonsa in locating hosts. Therefore, oilseed sunflowers can be used as repellent plants to prevent F. intonsa invasion.

The Potential of Using Different Legume Species in a Push–Pull Approach to Manage Spodoptera frugiperda in Maize in China

ABSTRACTFall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith), a notorious pest native to the tropical and subtropical Americas, has recently invaded China, causing substantial damage to crops, particularly maize. The push–pull strategy has been reported to be an effective prevention measure for FAW in Africa, with maize–soybean intercropping significantly reducing FAW infestation. To assess the potential of legume hosts as ‘push’ or ‘pull’ plants to control FAW in maize, we employed life table analysis and indoor cage tests to investigate the offspring performance, feeding and oviposition preference of FAW on five selected legume species, namely mung bean (Vigna radiata L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), red bean (Vigna angularis Willd.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp), with maize (Zea mays L.) as a control. Mung bean and cowpea were subsequently selected as repellent and attractant plant, respectively, to study FAW infestation levels in maize in the field. The results showed that maize was the most suitable host plant for FAW, as indicated by its shortest developmental duration and highest pupal weight. However, among all the tested legume species, cowpea was the best host for FAW, with shorter larval, pre‐adult and adult durations than on the leaves of the other legumes. Moreover, the feeding and oviposition preference tests revealed that FAW had a strong preference for maize and cowpea, but strongly rejected mung bean. Compared with that in the maize monoculture group, the total number of eggs laid in the maize–mung group decreased by 67.25%, whereas that in the maize–cowpea group significantly increased by 2.04‐fold in greenhouse tests. In the randomised block field experiment, the infestation of maize by FAW in the mung bean–cowpea system was significantly lower than that in the maize monoculture or in the system with maize surrounded only by cowpea. This study indicated that mung bean and cowpea are promising candidates as repellent plants (push) and attractant plants (pull), respectively, for intercropping with maize to reduce the damage caused by FAW.

Genetic diversity, essential oil's chemical constituents of aromatic plant Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze Syn. Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. and its uses in crop protection: a review.

This review provides evidence on the genetic diversity, chemical constituents, and ecotoxicology of Mesosphaerum suaveolens ' essential oil. It emphasizes the agricultural benefits such as crop protection effectiveness of the plant and highlights the existing knowledge gaps and research perspectives to promote its utilization in agriculture. A systematic and extensive review of the literature was done and all pertinent full-text articles and abstracts were analyzed and incorporated into the review. Mesosphaerum suaveolens is used traditionally in pharmacology to treat several diseases such as malaria, constipation, stomach problems, and renal inflammation. It also treats cramps, digestive infections, headaches, and skin infections. To date, very few studies have been conducted worldwide about its genetic diversity. These studies highlighted three morphological variants, the blue-flowering, the white-flowering, and the light-purple flowering M. suaveolens. Its wide biological actions may be attributed to the numerous groups of chemical constituents in its essential oil including monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and diterpenes. Biological studies highlighted evidence of M. suaveolens being used as an antifungal, bactericidal, antimicrobial, insecticidal, and repellent plant. The essential oil extracted from M. suaveolens showed significant potential for the control of agricultural pests such as Sitiophilus zeamais, Helicoverpa armigera and Helminthosporium oryzae. M. suaveolens is commonly used worldwide as a pesticidal plant in healthcare, agriculture, and food preservation. However, there is a lack of studies concerning the toxicity and effectiveness of isolated potent phytotoxic substances, the efficacy screening in the field, the genetic diversity, the essential oil yield, and productivity. Consequently, further studies are required to fill the knowledge gaps.

Combination of functional plants conserves predators, repels pests, and enhances biological control of Aphis spiraecola in apple orchards

Functional plants possess the ability to attract natural enemies or repel pests, and they play an important role in ecological regulation. While most studies have focused on the impacts of individual plants or plant combinations with similar functions on pests, there is a scarcity of research on the effects of combining plants with different functions, particularly in the case of orchard pests. In this study, we combined plants (Cnidium monnieri (L.) or Brassica napus L.) that attract predators with plants (Ocimum basilicum L. or Mentha haplocalyx Briq.) that repel pests to determine if these combinations can enhance biocontrol of Aphis spiraecola Patch on apple trees. All four combinations reduced the A. spiraecola population on apple trees. B. napus & M. haplocalyx achieved the highest reduction rate (88.58%), followed by C. monnieri & O. basilicum (88.06%), B. napus & O. basilicum (86.11%), and C. monnieri & M. haplocalyx (79.41%). Cage exclusion tests on 29 June and 4 July 2023 showed that biocontrol services index of all combinations was significantly higher than that of the control. Rubidium marking test showed that 61.90%–71.43% of Chrysoperla sinica (Tjeder) individuals in trees had transferred from functional plants. Behavioral responses and field trapping indicated that compounds such as cis-citral, nepetalactone, caryophyllene, beta-pinene, and eugenol, which are present in repellent plants, had significant repellency against A. spiraecola. The use of functional plant combinations in apple orchards can enhance biocontrol of A. spiraecola by promoting predators and by repelling aphid. This supports the potential of functional plant combinations in agroforestry ecosystems for pest biocontrol.

Farmers’ Knowledge, Perceptions, and Management Practices of False Codling Moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta) in Smallholder Capsicum sp. Cropping Systems in Kenya

False codling moth (FCM) Thaumatotibia leucotreta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is currently the main pest of phytosanitary concern in international trade, causing rejection and decline of horticultural produce from Kenya exported to the European Union (EU). Overreliance on synthetic insecticides to control this pest is ineffective and unsustainable in the long run, whereas continuous use of pesticides results in high levels of residues in the produce. To gather farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices used by smallholder farmers to manage this pest, a field survey was carried out in 10 Capsicum sp. (Solanales: Solanaceae)-producing counties in Kenya. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires administered through face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions involving 108 individual farmers, 20 key informants, and 10 focus group discussions. The majority of the respondents (83.33%) were aware of the FCM infesting Capsicum sp. About three quarters of the farmers (76.85%) reported yield losses and unmarketable quality of FCM-infested Capsicum sp. Most farmers interviewed (99.07%) used insecticides as a management tool. In contrast, only 39.81% of the farmers applied integrated pest management strategies including use of biological control agents and intercropping with repellent plants to control this pest. The results show that FCM is perceived as a significant threat to the horticultural industry of Kenya. Training needs for smallholder farmers and key informants to avoid overreliance on synthetic chemical pesticides and to maintain export goals to the EU where identified.

Ethnobotanical Study of Mosquito Repellent Plants Used in Seweyna District, Bale Zone, Southeast, Ethiopia.

Malaria control efforts through vector control strategies are hindered by the development of insecticide resistance by major malaria vectors in many malaria-endemic areas, which necessitate the need for alternative control measures. The aim of this study was to document plants traditionally used as mosquito repellents in Seweyna district, southeastern Ethiopia. The ethnobotanical data were collected using semistructured interviews, field observation, and guided field walks in four kebeles of the district with 98 informants. A total of 19 plant species were used by the local community as mosquito repellent, with 42.1% being trees. These plant species belong to 12 families. Of these families, the family Burseraceae was the most represented, with four species, followed by Fabaceae (3 species). The most frequently mentioned plant species were Mimusops kummel (90.81%), followed by Acokanthera schimperi (84.69%), Boswellia microphylla (79.6%), and Calpurnia aurea (79.6%). The stem was the most common plant part used (47.3%) to repel mosquitoes. Most of the local communities (52.6%) use the burning of either fresh or dry plant parts to generate smoke, which is the most common practice. The current ethnobotanical study indicates that the local community in the Seweyna district uses the plants to repel mosquitoes. In the future, the repellent efficacy of these plants against the major malaria vector should be tested under laboratory and field conditions. Besides, the identification of the bioactive compounds responsible for the repellent activity should also be determined.

Electrophysiological and Behavioral Responses of Cabbage Aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae) to Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) Volatiles, a Potential push Plant for Vegetable push-pull Cropping System.

The cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae) is a major pest of kale (Brassica oleraceae var. acephala), an important vegetable that is grown worldwide due to its high nutritional and economic value. Brevicoryne brassicae poses a great challenge to B. oleraceae var. acephala production, causing significant direct and indirect yield losses. Farmers overly rely on synthetic insecticides to manage the pest with limited success owing to its high reproductive behavior and development of resistance. This necessitates a search for sustainable alternatives to mitigate these challenges. This study assessed behavioral responses of B. brassicae to odors from rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and B. oleraceae var. acephala headspace volatiles in a Perspex four-arm olfactometer. We identified and quantified volatiles emitted by each of the two plants and those eliciting antennal response using coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and GC-electroantennograhic detection(GC-EAD), respectively. Our findings revealed that B. brassicae spent more time in the arms of the olfactometer that contained B. oleraceae var. acephala volatiles compared to the arm that held R. officinalis volatiles. Additionally, B. brassicae spent more time in the olfactometer arms with B. oleracea var. acephala compared to the arms holding B. oleracea var. acephala and R. officinalis enclosed together and clean air. GC-MS analysis revealed diverse and higher quantities of volatile compounds in R. officinalis compared to B. oleraceae var. acephala. GC-EAD analysis showed that antennae of B. brassicae detected Linalool, α-Terpineol, Verbenone, Geraniol, Camphor, and Borneol from the volatiles of R. officinalis, and Sabinene, γ-Terpinene, and β-Caryophyllene from B. oleraceae var. acephala volatiles.Our findings demonstrate the potential of R. officinalis as a repellent plant against B. brassicae and could be utilized as a 'push' plant in an intercropping strategy against this pest.

Enhancing attraction and aggregation of desert locusts for efficient harvesting: Push–pull approach

AbstractDesert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) pose a significant threat to food security. However, they also serve as a nutrient‐rich delicacy in many African and Arabic communities where they are traditionally harvested for food and feed. Traditional harvesting methods are inefficient, laborious, and time‐consuming; hence, there is a need to explore more convenient and efficient techniques. This study assessed preferential selection and feeding behavior of desert locusts to identify trap plants that could attract and aggregate them for easy harvesting. Four trap plants (cowpea, finger millet, sorghum, and amaranth) and four repellent plants (neem, pencil cactus, garlic, and cayenne red pepper) were evaluated through multiple‐choice experiments. A randomized complete block design involving mature adult, immature adult, and hopper stages of desert locusts was used. Analysis of variance was used to determine the effects of repellent and trap plants on feeding preferences of desert locusts. Mean differences between treatments at p < 0.05 were separated using post hoc Tukey's honestly significant difference. Cowpea as the most preferred trap plant attracted 62.7%, 70.7%, and 76.9% of mature adult, immature adult, and hopper locust stages, respectively. Neem exhibited the most potent repellent effect and attracted no desert locusts for feeding. Neem repelled locusts, thereby reducing infestation and damage of cowpea as a pull plant when both plants were grown in the same pot in a “push–pull” system. The push–pull attracted 3.7%, 24.3%, and 7.8% of mature adult, immature adult, and hopper locust stages, respectively. However, cowpea attracted large numbers of locusts (96.3% mature adults, 75.7% immature adults, and 92.2% hoppers) when grown separately from neem. These findings provide valuable insights on the potential of exploiting traps and repellents to enhance aggregation and harvesting of desert locusts as food and feed.

Identifikasi Tumbuhan sebagai Repellent terhadap Nyamuk : Review

Indonesia as one of the tropical countries in the world with high air humidity triggers the breeding of mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti which is one of the vectors of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF). This type of research is a literature study using the literature review method. This method is carried out by evaluating, interpreting and explaining the ideas discussed in several studies by searching for sources from the Google Scholar database. The selection of the type of article is based on the year of publication, the article can be accessed in its entirety, and discusses plants as repellents against mosquitoes. Based on research results from several sources, there is a biological prospect as an anti-mosquito agent for anti-mosquito and repellent/repelling power because it contains bioactive compounds, such as alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, steroids and terpenoids. These compounds enter through respiratory contact and digestive/gastric toxins so that mosquitoes experience mortality/death. This compound also blocks chemical receptors (chemoreceptors) found on the palpus and antennae of mosquitoes, so that mosquitoes escape without sucking blood again. It is hoped that this review article can provide information regarding repellent plants as anti-mosquitoes. It can be concluded from the results of the review that there are plants that have repellent power against Aedes aegypti with increased protective power according to the increase in concentration of the plant used, as well as the length of exposure of the extract from each plant to the skin.

Epidemiological Determinants and Trend Analysis of Dengue Fever Disease

Bandung City is an endemic area for dengue fever, with 4,424 cases and 14 deaths. This research aims to analyze the epidemiological determinants and see the trend analysis to forecast dengue hemorrhagic fever cases. This research used a case-control design. The case population was those who suffered from dengue hemorrhagic fever, while the control population was those who did not suffer from dengue hemorrhagic fever. A sample of 510 respondents was taken. Sampling using a purposive sampling technique. Epidemiological determinants were analyzed using the chi-square test and logistic regression, while disease trends used exponential smooth analysis. The related results were education (p=0.036), presence of mosquito larvae (p=0.000), container material (p=0.002), water container (p=0.025), mosquito wire (p=0.010), presence of solid waste (p=0.002), mosquito repellent plants (p=0.041), mobility (p=0.004). The most dominant epidemiological determinant was the presence of mosquito larvae (OR=3.2). The incidence trend of dengue fever is increasing over the next 5 years. The research concluded that the epidemiological determinants of dengue fever were education, the presence of mosquito larvae, container materials, water collection objects, mosquito wires, the presence of solid waste, and mosquito repellent plants. The presence of mosquito larvae was the dominant factor. There is an increase in dengue fever cases over the next 5 years. It is recommended to increase the larva-free rate by optimizing Jumantik cadres and conducting epidemiological surveillance.

Genome-Wide Identification of the Genes of the Odorant-Binding Protein Family Reveal Their Role in the Olfactory Response of the Tomato Leaf Miner (Tuta absoluta) to a Repellent Plant

The remarkable biological and evolutionary adaptations of insects to plants are largely attributed to the powerful chemosensory systems of insects. The tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta) is a destructive invasive pest with a global distribution that poses a serious threat to the production of nightshade crops, especially tomatoes. Functional plants can attract or repel insect pests by releasing volatiles that interact with the olfactory system of insects, thereby reducing the damage of insect pests to target crops. However, there is limited research on the interaction between T. absoluta olfactory genes and functional plants. In this study, 97 members of the putative odorant-binding protein (OBP) family have been identified in the whole genome of T. absoluta. Phylogenetic analysis involving various Lepidopteran and Dipteran species, including D. melanogaster, revealed that OBP gene families present conserved clustering patterns. Furthermore, the Plus-C subfamily of OBP showed extremely significant expansion. Moreover, the expression levels of the OBP genes varied significantly between different developmental stages; that is, the highest number of OBP genes were expressed in the adult stage, followed by the larval stage, and fewer genes were expressed in high abundance in the egg stage. On the other hand, through a Y-tube olfactometer, we identified a functional plant—Plectranthus tomentosa—that significantly repels adult and larval T. absoluta. Finally, we screened the OBP genes in response to tomato and P. tomentosa volatiles at the genomic level of T. absoluta using RT-qPCR. These results laid a good foundation for controlling T. absoluta with functional plants and further studying olfactory genes.

Extraction of chrysanthemum oil to produce organic insect repellent

Commercial repellent treatments incorporating plant-based components have recently gained favourable among users due to the fact They are considered “safe” in compared to long-established synthetic repellents however, this is usually not accurate. Many essential oils included in insect repellents and insecticides are very volatile, which adds to their short lifespan as insect repellents. This problem, however, can be resolved by adding fixatives to increase their lifespan. The objective of developing this organic repellent is to give a productive, totally natural preventive solution to repel cold-blooded and harmful insects. The aim of this project is to produce an organic repellent utilizing chrysanthemum oil and chrysanthemum oil + peppermint oil, and to test the efficacy of both end products. The experimental results exhibited that all three-parameter concentration revealed significant influence on 5 ml, 7 ml and 9 ml given the average mortality time of killing was 2.62 min, 2.34 min, and 3.38 min, respectively, as Chrysanthemum oil and Chrysanthemum oil + peppermint oil that the average mortality time of killing was 2.81 min, 3.04 min, and 2.79 min to cold-blooded insects such as cockroach, flies, and ants. As a result, there is a need to analysed natural materials as biopesticides since they are harmless to humans and the environment. Knowledge gained from ethnobotanical studies on traditional repellent plants is a great resource for the creation of new natural products.

A meta-analytic investigation of the potential for plant volatiles and sex pheromones to enhance detection and management of Lepidopteran pests.

Effective early detection, monitoring and management methods are critical for reducing the impacts of insect pests in agriculture and forestry. Combining host plant volatiles with sex pheromones could enhance trapping methodologies, whilst the use of non-host volatiles could improve the effectiveness of pest management through repellency effects. In this meta-analysis approach, we analysed 51 studies that used electroantennograms (EAG), wind tunnels and/or field traps to evaluate the antennal and behavioural responses of Lepidoptera to sex pheromones combined with attractant or repellent plant volatiles. Proposed attractant plant volatiles had a positive association with female Lepidoptera responses to sex pheromone, but effects on males were highly variable, with unexpected repellency reported in some studies. Proposed repellent plant volatiles were significantly or near-significantly negatively associated with male attraction to sex pheromones but were scarcely studied. Sub-group analysis identified that male responses to sex pheromone were reduced when the dose of attractant plant volatile relative to sex pheromone was increased. Green-leaf volatiles were associated with the strongest positive effects for males in field traps. Multiple-compound attractant plant volatile blends were less effective than single compounds in field studies. Our analysis demonstrates, (i) the potential value of combining host plant volatiles with sex pheromones to capture females rather than only males, (ii) the importance of identifying appropriate host plant volatiles and optimal relative doses, and (iii) the potential for non-host plant volatile use in pest management strategies.

Eggplant-garlic intercrops reduce the density of Tetranychus urticae on eggplant and improve crop yield.

Diversification of cultivation systems plays a critical role in ecosystem functions such as pest control, diversity of beneficial arthropods, and soil fertility. Repellent plants (releasing volatile organic compounds as arthropod repellents and providing alternative prey for natural enemies) may be used in an intercropping system for pest control; however, little is known concerning their relative priority. In this study, the impact of intercropping eggplant (E) (Solanum melongena L.) and garlic (G) (Allium sativum L.) in three designs -with row ratios of 4E:4G, 4E:8G, or 4E:12G -was assessed on the density of the two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) (Tetranychus urticae Koch), the abundance and diversity of predators, and crop yields, compared with the sole crops over two growing seasons of 2019 and 2020. In three intercrops, a significant decrease in the density of TSSM egg and mobile stages was observed compared with the sole eggplant at each growth stage of eggplant. The damage index by TSSM on eggplants was lower in intercrops (8.1-11.5%) compared with sole crop (37.0-40.3%) in the two seasons. The abundance of Stethorus gilvifrons was lower in the three intercrops than in the sole crop on the blooming-initial fruit set and the fruit development stages of eggplant. The density of Orius niger was higher in the three intercrops compared with the sole crop on vegetative growth and flowering to initial fruit set stages of eggplants. The abundance of Chrysoperla carnea was not significant among treatments. Greater values of the Shannon diversity index and the Pielou's evenness index for the construction of TSSM predators were recorded in the three intercrops compared with the sole eggplant over both growing seasons. In addition, a significant improvement in the yield per unit area of eggplant and garlic was obtained in intercrops compared with sole crops. These results indicate intercropping eggplant and garlic was a practical solution for reducing TSSM on eggplant, promoting the abundance of predators, and improving the crop yields of eggplant and garlic compared with the sole crops.

Evaluasi efektivitas tanaman repelen dalam pengendalian penggerek batang Apomecyna saltator F. (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) pada tanaman labu madu dengan pola tanam tumpang sari

Apomecyna saltator Fabricius (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) merupakan hama tanaman labu madu yang keberadaannya perlu dikendalikan. Namun, informasi mengenai hama ini masih sangat terbatas. Pengendalian dengan penerapan pola tumpang sari memiliki prospek dan perlu dikembangkan untuk pengendalian hama ini sebagai bagian integral dari pengembangan pengendalian hama terpadu A. saltator. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengetahui pengaruh pola tanam tumpang sari tanaman labu madu dengan beberapa tanaman repelan terhadap persentase infestasi, populasi larva/pupa A. saltator, dan produksi labu madu. Penelitian ini dirancang dengan rancangan acak kelompok (RAK) yang terdiri atas 4 perlakuan, yaitu monokultur tanaman labu madu (A); tumpang sari tanaman labu madu dan serai (B); tumpang sari tanaman labu madu dan kunyit (C); tumpang sari tanaman labu madu dan bawang daun (D). Setiap perlakuan diulang sebanyak 6 kali. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa rata-rata persentase infestasi A. saltator sampai 56 hari setelah tanam (HST) untuk semua perlakuan berkisar 72–79,6%. Populasi larva/pupa A. saltator berkisar 107–128 individu/9 tanaman. Produksi labu madu berkisar 21,97–26,75 kg/9 tanaman. Dari hasil penelitian ini disimpulkan bahwa tanaman kunyit, serai, dan bawang daun tidak berpengaruh terhadap persentase infestasi, populasi A. saltator, dan produksi labu madu.

A REVIEW OF PLANT-BASED INSECT REPELLENTS, THEIR APPLICATIONS ON TEXTILES AND REPELLENCY TEST METHODS

There are many life-threatening insects in nature and the most dangerous ones are mosquitoes. People have taken herbal precautions against them since ancient times. Although several chemical and synthetic insect repellents exist in the market, the plant-based protection methods have never been given up such that there is a trend towards producing and commercializing plant-based insect repellents in recent years. In the light of ethnobotanical studies, new insect repellent plants and formulations are being explored, developed and tested. In literature, there are a lot of research on plant-based repellents some of which are reviewed in this article. Information about the most frequently used plant-based repellents and related studies are presented. Different application methods of the plant-based repellents on the textiles are explained with their a few examples in literature. Also, common test methods used for determining the effectiveness of insect repellents and repellent treated textiles are stated and the importance of the standardization of these test methods is emphasized. It is understood that usage of plant-based insect repellents in practice can be beneficial and useful if stayed within their safe concentration limits.

The Effect of Combining Repellent Intercrops on the Host-Finding, Ovipositional Preference, and Damage Potential of Eggplant Fruit and Shoot Borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guen´ee

The eggplant fruit and shoot borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guen´ee), also known as EFSB, is anotorious major insect pest of eggplants. Researchers have been striving to find effective management strategies to reduce the population of this pest and achieve higher yields with minimal or no insecticide application. This study aimed to investigate the influence of intercropping eggplants with different repellent plants as a means to mitigate EFSB infestation, considering the heavy reliance on insecticides in eggplant production. The experiment followed a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with six treatments replicated three times.The treatments included lemongrass, oregano, marigold, a combination of repellent plants (lemongrass + oregano + marigold), farmers’ practice (methomyl), and the control (sole eggplant). Data analysis was conducted using analysis of variance, and the differences across treatment means were calculated using Tukey’s Honest Significant Difference. The results revealed that intercropping eggplants with marigold, oregano, and lemongrass exhibited repellent effects on EFSB moths, leading to a significant reduction in the percentage of shoot damage. These findings suggest the potential utilization of intercropping with repellent plants as a more environmentally friendly approach, reducing the need for insecticide usage and potentially increasing farmers’ income.

Biological Environmental Conditions on the Incidence of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

An infectious disease that is still a problem in the city of Bandung is dengue hemorrhagic fever which is transmitted through the vector aedes aegipty. The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of biological environment on the incidence of dengue hemorrhagic fever. The design used was a control case. The subjects of this study were dengue hemorrhagic fever sufferers in the Sekejati Health Center work area. The sample size was 180 subjects and was taken using a simple random. The study sample consisted of 90 cases and 90 controls. Data were collected by direct observation using observation sheets. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test. The results showed that the variables that affect the incidence of dengue hemorrhagic fever are the presence of breeding place (p-value=0,001 and POR=3,2), Resting place (p-value=0,011 and POR=2,2), solid waste (p-value=0,033 and POR=2,0), and mosquito repellent plants (p-value=0,012 and POR=2,5). The biological environment that is resistant to dengue hemorrhagic fever is a breeding place, resting place, the presence of solid waste, and mosquito repellent plants. It is recommended for health workers to be more active in conducting socialization to the community regarding efforts to prevent dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Fluctuación Poblacional de Trips1 en Diferentes Arreglos Espaciales de la Asociación Cempaxóchitl, y Tomate de Cáscara

Tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica Lam) is native to the Americas, and thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) are one of its main phytosanitary problems. These insects reduce yields by damaging photosynthetic capacity of leaves. Severe infestations also lead to floral buds remaining closed and drying prematurely. Thrips are generally controlled using synthetic insecticides and biological control. A possible additional measure of control is the use of spatial arrangements in combination with attractive or repellent plants, such as the Mexican marigold (Tagetes erecta L.). We evaluated the population dynamics of thrips on T. erecta and P. philadelphica in monoculture and in association with each other in three spatial arrangements in two localities in the Toluca Valley. Thrips abundance was greatest in T. erecta monoculture, significantly more than in P. philadelphica in monoculture, or in any of the spatial arrangements. All spatial arrangements had greater tomatillo yield compared to monoculture. We conclude that T. erecta acts as a natural attractant plant for thrips during all phenological stages of the life of the plant.