Antifeedant and repellent effects of pongam (Pongamia pinnata) and wild sage (Lantana camara) on tea mosquito bug (Helopeltis theivora)

An experiment was conducted during 1995-96 to evaluate the antifeedant and repellent property of pongam (Pongamia pinnata Pierre) and wild sage (Lantana camara L.) with chloroform, petroleum ether and methanol solvent extract against tea mosquito bug (Helopeltis theivora Waterhouse). Among all the solvent extracts, chloroform extract showed the highest antifeedant property. The sprayed shoots of tea with Pongamia pinnata at 5% chloroform extract developed only 18.25,28.25, and 43.25 number of spots 24, 48, and 72 hr after treatment respectively, whereas the same was increased to 179.50,401.25 and 653.75 at 24, 48 and 72 hr after observation on untreated control respectively. The other extracts also showed very promising result. Lantana camara also gave very good result compared with the control, though here also chloroform extract gave the highest antifeedant property. Both the plants also showed excellent repellent property to the first instar nymphs of tea mosquito bug, although highest repellency was shown by Pongamia pinnata in case of chloroform extract. Lantana camara also gave excellent repellency to the insect.