Bioprospecting of botanical insecticides: The case of ethanol extracts of Magnolia schiedeana Schltl. applied to a Tephritid, fruit fly Anastrepha ludens Loew

Abstract

The present study was set out to determine the insecticidal properties of different vegetative structures of Magnolia schiedeana Schltl. (Magnoliaceae) against adults of Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae). To evaluate the insecticidal effect, a feed bio-essay was conducted on adult individuals using ethanol extracts of vegetative structures of M. schiedeana. Only seed and sarcotesta extracts showed insecticidal activity on flies. Extracts of other plant organs (leaves, flowers, bark, follicles) showed no significant biological activity. These results suggest that the sarcotesta of M. schiedeana has secondary metabolites with potential for the development of an insecticide for the control of adults of A. ludens.