Rodolfo Figueroa-Brito

Composition of the Essential Oil of Salvia ballotiflora (Lamiaceae) and Its Insecticidal Activity

Essential oils can be used as an alternative to using synthetic insecticides for pest management. Therefore, the insectistatic and insecticidal activities of the essential oil of aerial parts of Salvia ballotiflora (Lamiaceae) were tested against the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The results demonstrated insecticidal and insectistatical activities against this insect pest with concentrations at 80 µg·mL−1 resulting in 20% larval viability and 10% pupal viability. The larval viability fifty (LV50) corresponded to a concentration of 128.8 µg·mL−1. This oil also increased the duration of the larval phase by 5.5 days and reduced the pupal weight by 29.2% withrespect to the control. The GC-MS analysis of the essential oil of S. ballotiflora showed its main components to be caryophyllene oxide (15.97%), and β-caryophyllene (12.74%), which showed insecticidal and insectistatical activities against S. frugiperda. The insecticidal activity of β-caryophyllene began at 80 µg·mL−1, giving a larval viability of 25% and viability pupal of 20%. The insectistatic activity also started at 80 µg·mL−1 reducing the pupal weight by 22.1% with respect to control. Caryophyllene oxide showed insecticidal activity at 80 µg·mL−1 giving a larval viability of 35% and viability pupal of 20%.The insectistatic activity started at 400 µg·mL−1 and increased the larval phase by 8.8% days with respect to control. The LV50 values for these compounds were 153.1 and 146.5 µg·mL−1, respectively.

REPELLENCY OF HYDROETHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF RICINUS COMMUNIS (EUPHORBIACEAE) TO SCYPHOPHORUS ACUPUNCTATUS (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE) IN THE LABORATORY

ABSTRACT The agave snout weevil Scyphophorus acupunctatus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an ubiquitous insect and the main pest of blue tequila agave, Agave tequilana Weber, and other agaves. This study reports the repellent effect of the hydroethanolic extract of the castor oil plant, Ricinus communis L. (Euphorbiaceae) wild and ‘Mirante’ cultivar on the adults behavior. Females and males visited untreated agave tissue more frequently than agave tissue treated with R. communis extracts. Insects visited agaves treated with seed extracts more frequently than those with leave extracts; therefore leaves of R. communis deserve a closer look to identify their properties and gauge their potential use as a repellent.

Effects of Five Species of Chenopodiaceae on the Development and Reproductive Potential of Copitarsia decolora (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract Modern agriculture aims to reduce continuous applications of synthetic chemical pesticides for pest control because of issues such as pollution, loss of trade and disruption of biological control agents, potentially leading to pest outbreaks. Botanical insecticides are a good alternative to synthetic pesticides, as they have lower environmental hazard, are biodegradable and can be used shortly before harvesting. We tested the effect of essential oils (EOs) and aqueous extracts (AEs) of Chenopodiaceae plants (Dysphania ambrosioides (=Chenopodium ambrosioides), Chenopodium album, C. berlandieri subsp. nuttalliae, C. graveolens and Beta vulgaris), incorporated into the diet under lab conditions, on a widely distributed insect pest in America, the cabbage pest, Copitarsia decolora Guenée 1852 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The EO of C. graveolens at 0.5% reduced the larvae and pupae weight by 30 and 15%, respectively; increased the larval period length by 17% and reduced fecundity and fertility by 80 and 85%, respectively related to the control. EOs of C. berlandieri and B. vulgaris at 0.5% increased larval and pupal period length by 22% and 38% and both reduced fecundity and fertility by 99% related to the control. None of the plant extracts tested caused immediate C. decolora mortality, but EOs reduced mean survival time and reproductive capacity of the insect. This is the first report of C. berlandieri EO effect against an insect pest. The EOs of C. graveolens, B. vulgaris and C. berlandieri have great potential as alternatives to synthetic chemicals for insect control and deserve further exploration.

Toxicity of Vegetable Powders on Scyphophorus acupunctatus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera:Curculionidae) Larvae

Abstract. Mortality and growth inhibition effect of Trichiliahavanensis, Annona cherimola, and Carica papaya seed powders were evaluated on Scyphophorus acupunctatus Gyll. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Seeds of T. havanensis and C. papayaat 15% were very toxic to S. acupunctatus, causing 100 and 90% larval mortality. Seed powder of A. cherimola killed 63% of the weevils. All powders inhibited the weight of the insect. Annona cherimola was the most effective, decreasing the weight of larvae, pupae, and adults 98.5, 40.6, and 45.0%. These results show that T. havanensis, C. papaya, and A. cherimola seed powders have the potential to control the S. acupunctatus weevil.

New host records of Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) from central Mexico

Abstract. Longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) feed during their larval stage on wood from recently dead or diseased trees and may have a wide variety of hosts. However, reports of larval hosts for Cerambycidae could be misinterpreted from field observations. The use of freshly cut branches to attract longhorn beetles is a method that provides reliable information about which hosts they use. This study reports new records of larval hosts of longhorn beetles in the tropical dry forest of San Andres de la Cal, Morelos, Mexico. In the study area, species of woody plants were sampled, from each of which sections of branches were cut and left exposed to local field conditions for two months to attract beetles. Branches were later collected and placed in emergence chambers. A total of 26 species of Cerambycidae emerged from the branches of 51 species of woody plants of the families Apocynaceae, Araliaceae, Burseraceae, Celastraceae, Convolvulaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Juglandaceae, Malpighiaceae, Malvaceae, Moraceae, Oleaceae and Rubiaceae. For all 26 cerambycid species, we found previously unreported hosts, and for nine species, the hosts we report are the first recorded in the literature. The nine species whose host relationships have not been previously reported are: Euderces basimaculatus Giesbert & Chemsak 1997; E. pulcher (Bates, 1874); Elytroleptus grandis Linsley 1935; Neocompsa puncticollis asperula (Bates, 1885); Acanthoderes (Pardalisia) lacrymans (Thomson, 1865); Olenosus serrimanus Bates, 1872; Oreodera brailovskyi Chemsak & Noguera, 1993; O. copei McCarty, 2001 and Spliaenothecus picticornis Bates, 1880.

Trichilia (Meliaceae) Plants: an Important Source of Biomolecules with Insecticidal Properties

Abstract The repeated application of synthetic insecticides has the potential to induce insecticide resistance. Plant extracts are a good source of bioinsecticides, as these extracts often have several bioactive compounds, thus reducing the occurrence of resistance. The genus Trichilia (Meliaceae) is distributed widely in Mexico and it is a sustainable source of bioactive compounds because their bark is shed annually and may be collected without harming the tree. This research evaluated the effect on mortality, weight, larval and pupal duration, fecundity, and fertility of Copitarsia decolora Guenée (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) when fed with a diet supplemented with different concentrations of hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol, and aqueous extracts of the Trichilia americana Sessé & Moc., Trichilia hirta L., and Trichilia havanensis Jacq. (Meliaceae) bark. All the extracts provoked a dose-response effect on the variables evaluated. The hexane extract of the 3 species was lethal to the larval stage, with the hexane extract of T. americana being the most toxic of the 3 species, followed by that of T. hirta. The aqueous extract of T. hirta displayed an insecticidal effect on the early instars. The ethyl acetate extracts of T. americana and hexane extracts of T. hirta inhibited growth and induced mortality. The extracts reduced fecundity and fertility of the insect. Extracts of T. americana reduced reproductive potential to a greater extent than did T. hirta and T. havanensis. This research suggests that bark extracts of T. americana, T. hirta, and T. havanensis are a sustainable source of biomolecules. Resumen La aplicación repetida de insecticidas sintéticos tiene el potencial de inducir resistencia a los insecticidad. Los extractos de plantas son una buena fuente de bioinsecticidas, ya que estos extractos a menudo tienen varios compuestos bioactivos, lo que reduce la apariencia de resistencia. El género Trichilia (Meliaceae) está ampliamente distribuido en México y es una fuente sustentable de compuestos bioactivos ya que su corteza se desprende anualmente y puede recolectarse sin dañar el árbol. Este trabajo evaluó el efecto sobre la mortalidad, peso, duración de larvas y pupas, fecundidad y fertilidad de Copitarsia decolora Guenée (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) al ser alimentadas con una dieta suplementada a diferentes concentraciones de extracto hexánico, acetato de etilo, acetónico, metanólico y acuoso de corteza de Trichilia americana Sessé & Moc., Trichilia hirta L., y Trichilia havanensis Jacq. (Meliaceae). Todos los extractos provocaron un efecto de dosis respuesta sobre las variables evaluadas. El extracto de hexano de las 3 especies fue letal para el estadio larval, siendo el extracto de T. americana el más tóxico de las 3 especies seguido por el de T. hirta. El extracto acuoso de T. hirta ocasionó un efecto insecticida en los primeros instares. Los extractos de acetato de etilo de T. americana y hexano de T. hirta inhibieron el crecimiento y provocaron mortalidad. Los extractos redujeron la fecundidad y la fertilidad del insecto. Los extractos de T. americana redujeron el potencial reproductivo en mayor medida que T. hirta y T. havanensis. Esta investigación sugiere que los extractos de corteza de T. americana, T. hirta, y T. havanensis son una fuente sustentable de biomoléculas.

Toxicity of Plant Extracts to Scyphophorus acupunctatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract We studied the insecticidal effect of plant extracts against larvae of Scyphophorus acupunctatus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), an important pest of Agavaceae. In the bioassays, the organic extracts of Argemone mexicana L. (Ranunculales: Papaveraceae), Allium sativum L. (Asparagales: Amaryllidaceae), Bursera grandifolia (Schltdl.) Engl. (Sapindales: Burseraceae), Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (Caryophyllales: Amaranthaceae), Prosopis laevigata (Willd.) M. C. Johnst. (Fabales: Fabaceae), and Tagetes erecta L. (Asterales: Asteraceae), which were individually incorporated into artificial diet at 500 ppm, were fed to 1st instars. The variables studied were larval, pupal, and adult weight, and larval and pupal mortality. The extracts of A. sativum, A. mexicana, P. laevigata, T. erecta, and B. grandifolia reduced larval weight by at least 50%. The greatest larval mortality was caused by the extracts of A. mexicana (53%), A. sativum (43%), and T. erecta (43%), whereas the greatest mortality of pupae was caused by extracts of T. erecta. The results suggest that A. mexicana, A. sativum, and T. erecta extracts have the greatest potential for insecticidal activity against S. acupunctatus.

Nitrogen fertilization sources and insecticidal activity of aqueous seeds extract of Carica papaya against Spodoptera frugiperda in maize

The damage caused by the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to vegetative-stage maize cultivated with chemical nitrogen fertilizers, vermicompost, and Carica papaya L. (Caricaceae) seed extract was estimated. Each shoot was infested with one first instar larva of S. frugiperda . The variables measured included the percentage of germination, length of the second and fifth leaves, stem diameter and plant height, and the estimation of damage caused by S. frugiperda larvae on maize. The results indicated that vermicompost helped seed germination on a relation 3:1 from black soil and vermicompost, the emergence was 100%, while the emergence with black soil was 80%. The ammonium sulfate increased the length of the second and fifth leaves 89.6% and 160.4% respectively, augmented the stem diameter and the plant height 290.2% and 13.3% respectively, respect to water treatment. The exogenous nitrogen sources stimulate S. frugiperda to cause more damage to the plant, the treatment urea showed 70% of damage, with phosphonitrate 62.3% and with ammonium sulfate 51.8%, when were evaluated without aqueous seed extract of C. papaya . Ammonium sulfate + aqueous extract of C. papaya seeds showed the lowest insect damage to maize with 29.6%. Se estimo el dano causado por el gusano cogollero del maiz Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) durante la etapa vegetativa de maiz cultivado con fertilizantes nitrogenados quimicos, vermicomposta, y extracto acuoso de semillas de Carica papaya L. (Caricaceae). Cada brote se infesto con una larva de primer instar de S. frugiperda . Las variables evaluadas incluyen el porcentaje de germinacion. Las variables respuesta fueron el porcentaje de emergencia, longitud de la segunda y quinta hoja, diametro de tallo y altura de la planta; asi como la estimacion de dano causado por larvas de S. frugiperda al maiz. Los resultados indicaron que la vermicomposta ayudo a la emergencia de la semilla, en una relacion 3:1 de suelo con vermicomposta alcanzo 100% de emergencia, mientras que solo con suelo, la emergencia fue de 80%; el sulfato de amonio incremento el tamano de la segunda hoja y quinta hoja 89,6 y 160,4% respectivamente, aumento el diametro de tallo y la altura de la planta 290,2 y 13,3%, respecto al tratamiento donde solo se aplico agua. Las fuentes de nitrogeno estimularon que S. frugiperda ocasionara mas dano a la planta, el tratamiento con urea presento 70% de dano, con fosfonitrato 62,3%, con sulfato de amonio fue de 51,8% sin extracto acuoso de semillas de C. papaya . El tratamiento con sulfato de amonio + extracto acuoso de semillas de C. papaya registro el menor dano del insecto al maiz con 29,6%.