Comparative study of three plant-derived extracts as new management strategies against Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Finding innovative eco-friendly agents for pest control may be aided by investigating the plant-derived extracts' properties on economic pests. Therefore, the insecticidal, behavioral, biological and biochemical effects of Magnolia grandiflora (Magnoliaceae) leaf water and methanol extracts, Schinus terebinthifolius (Anacardiaceae) wood methanol extract, and Salix babylonica (Salicaceae) leaf methanol extract in comparison with a reference insecticide novaluron against S. littoralis were evaluated. The extracts were analyzed by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The most abundant phenolic compounds were 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (7.16 mg/mL) and ferulic acid (6.34 mg/mL) in M. grandiflora leaf water extract; catechol (13.05 mg/mL), ferulic acid (11.87 mg/mL), and chlorogenic acid (10.33 mg/mL) in M. grandiflora leaf methanol extract; ferulic acid (14.81 mg/mL), caffeic acid (5.61 mg/mL), and gallic acid (5.07 mg/mL) In the S. terebinthifolius extract; cinnamic acid (11.36 mg/mL), and protocatechuic acid (10.33 mg/mL) In the methanol extract from S. babylonica extract. S. terebinthifolius extract had a highly toxic effect against second larvae after 96 h and eggs with LC50 values of 0.89 and 0.94 mg/L, respectively. Despite M. grandiflora extracts didn't show any toxicity against S. littoralis stages, they had an attractant effect on fourth- and second larvae, with feeding deterrence values of - 2.7% and - 6.7%, respectively, at 10 mg/L. S. terebinthifolius extract significantly reduced the percentage of pupation, adult emergence, hatchability, and fecundity, with values of 60.2%, 56.7%, 35.3%, and 105.4 eggs/female, respectively. Novaluron and S. terebinthifolius extract drastically inhibited the activities of alpha-amylase and total proteases to 1.16 and 0.52, and 1.47 and 0.65 Delta OD/mg protein/min, respectively. In the semi-field experiment, the residual toxicity of tested extracts on S. littoralis gradually decreased over time compared to novaluron. These findings indicate that extract from S. terebinthifolius is a promising insecticidal agent against S. littoralis.

Automated summary

Investigating the properties of plant-derived extracts on economic pests can help find innovative eco-friendly pest control agents. This study evaluated the effects of Magnolia grandiflora, Schinus terebinthifolius, and Salix babylonica extracts on Spodoptera littoralis, and found that the S. terebinthifolius extract showed highly toxic effects on larvae and eggs. The study also found that the residual toxicity of the tested extracts gradually decreased over time compared to the reference insecticide novaluron.