Termiticidal potential of Melia azedarach and Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves extract

Abstract

This study was carried out to analyze morphometric variations in two termite species i.e. Odontotermes obesus and Microtermes obesi and to determine the anti termitic potential of two local plants Melia azedarach and Eucalyptus camaldulensis against them. Solider cast of these two termite species was collected from three different sites including Murree (Site A), Rawalpindi (Site B) and Gujarkhan (Site C). Morphometric variations in different characters like full body length, length of thorax, length of abdomen, length from head to mandible tip, length of head, width of head, length of pronotum, width of pronotum, length of postmentum, width of postmentum, length of right mandible, length of left mandible, length of antenna (scape, pedicle, flagellum), length of front, middle and hind legs (coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia, tarsus and claw) were measured and statistically analyzed for mean, standard deviation, standard error, coefficient of variability, confidence interval (95%) and analysis of variance. The mean values of the different population samples were compared with the student t–test, following the Minitab version 16. The results showed that majority of external characters of soldier cast were not significantly different from each other with different locations. However small numbers of characters showed variations like pedicle, scape, trochanter and tibia. To determine termiticidal activity of Melia azedarach and Eucalyptus camaldulensis, 40 termites were placed in each petri dish having filter paper soaked in different concentrations (100ppm, 200ppm, 300ppm) of water and methanol extracts of leaves. In no choice experiment percent mortality of termites was calculated after 24 hrs, 48 hrs and 72 hrs. The results were analyzed by using one way Anova and Tukey test. Among two solvent extracts tested, the maximum activity was observed in both water and methanolic extracts of E. camaldulensis against M. obesi and O. obesus. Protein (mg/g), Carbohydrate (mg/g) and lipid mg/dl (triglyceride, cholesterol and high density lipid) were estimated by Lowry’s method, phenol sulphuric acid method and by biochemistry analyzer. Carbohydrate, lipid and protein contents of both the termite species were decreased as compared to control. The lowering of these biochemical components may be due to the insecticidal stress caused by these extract which lowered the feeding, proper digestion of food and metabolism.