BIOEFFICACY OF EUCALYPTUS CAMALDULENSIS AND CYMBOPOGON CITRATUS EXTRACTS AGAINST PERIPLANETA AMERICANA

Abstract

The American cockroach, (Periplaneta Americana) is a common pest in many parts of the world and their control can be difficult to due to their ability to develop resistance to traditional pesticide. In this study, the effectiveness of three plants extracts; Eucalyptus Camaldulensis and Cymbopogon Citratus against Periplaneta Americana was investigated. The effectiveness was tested by exposing the P. Americana into three concentrations (2.5, 5.0 and 10.0%) of ethanoic leaf extract of each plant in three replicates. The result shows that all the botanical extracts had significant insecticidal activity against Periplaneta Americana as they recorded 100% mortality at highest dosage. E. Camaldulensis emerges as the most virulent as it recorded the highest mortality at all concentration. The finding also recorded E. Camaldulensis as the most effective as it kills 50% and 99% of the P. Americana with the lowest value of 1.79 and 7.17 respectively. The findings therefore suggested that the botanical extracts have potential as effective and environmentally-friendly biopesticides for controlling American cockroaches.

Key words: Pesticide, Extract, Mortality, Resistance