TOXIC POTENTIAL OF ALSTONIA SCHOLARIS AND SALVADORA OLEIODES LEAVES EXTRACT AGAINST SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES, MICROTERMES OBESI (ISOPTERA: TERMITIDAE)

Termites impart hazardous impacts on the ecosystem by causing severe damage to wooden components. They decrease crop yield, restrain the production of economically important trees, and destroy wooden buildings. The utilization of insecticidal plants provides a promising strategy for the control of insects. The undertaken study is intended to highlight the anti-termite potential of plant extracts as a promising strategy for termite control. Insecticidal potential of Alstonia scholaris and Salvadora oleiodes extract revealed by investigating their impact on mortality and tunneling activities of Microtermes obesi. Mortality of Microtermes obesi was investigated by treating the soil and filter paper with different concentrations of methanolic and aqueous extracts. Least LT₅₀ value was shown by 40% methanolic extract of S. oleiodes i.e. 40.476 and 37.425 hours, in soil and filter paper assay, respectively. Termites showed least tunneling activity at 40% concentration of methanolic extract of S. oleiodes thus indicating that toxicity of phytochemicals might have apprehended the movement of termites. Methanolic extract of S. oleiodes showed grade 1 (v. v. strong) repellent activity, whereas varying concentrations of A. scholaris showed grade 2 (v. strong) repellent activity. Hence, it can be concluded that S. Oleiodes possess more promising anti-termite potential as compare to A. scholaris.