Comparative toxicological computability of turmeric, Curcuma domestica Valeton, Pavettia, Adhatoda vasica Nees and Hulhul, Cleome monophylla Linn. Against Bihar hairy caterpillar, Spilarctia obliqua Walk. (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)

Abstract

In the present investigation alcoholic extract of two indigenous plant extracts viz., leaves of Pavettia, Adhatoda vasica Nees. (Acanthaceae), rhizomes of Turmeric, Curcuma domesticus Volten (Zingiberaceae), seeds of hulhul, Cleome monophylla Linn. (Capparidaceae), with control (benzene + emulsified water) were prepared with the help of the soxhlet apparatus under the laboratory conditions. These extracts were tested to find out insecticidal effects against third instars larvae of Bihar hairy caterpillar, Spilarctia obliqua Walk. (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). The data depicted from results that rhizomes extract of C. domesticus Vol. gave the maximum mortality. It killed 66.35 per cent Spilarctia obliqua larvae followed by A. vasica Nees. (65.70 per cent), and C. monophylla Linn (64.16 per cent) whereas untreated control showed only 12.26 per cent mean mortality to the caterpillar of S. obliqua. The plant extract of C. domesticus differed significantly from remaining once except C. monophylla, from which it does not differs significantly to one another.