Effect of Some Phytotherapeutic Agents on Egg Production of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) Microplus

Phytotherapeutic agents like neem (Azadirachta indica) seed oil, karanj (Pongamia glabra) seed oil, mixture of neem and karanj seed oil (1:1), methanolic extract of neem leaves, methanolic extract of karanj leaves and mixture of methanolic extract of neem and karanj leaves (1:1) were evaluated for their in vitro effect on per cent efficacy and egg production of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus by single and double dipping. In case of single treatment, karanj seed oil exhibited highest efficacy after 5 days of treatment. The acaricidal action of karanj leaf extract was also encouraging. Mixture of neem and karanj leaf extract (1:1) provided slightly lower efficacy as compared to the above treatment schedules. The most striking result was observed during double dipping when all the ticks died when treated with karanj oil. While comparing the mean weight of egg mass laid by the female ticks among the different treatment groups, it was found that the mean weight of egg mass laid by karanj oil treated ticks was significantly lower (p< 0.05) than the egg mass laid by female ticks treated with neem seed oil, mixture of neem and karanj seed oil and neem leaves extract. On single and double dipping in herbal extracts it was observed that the mean number of eggs laid per female tick in neem oil treatment group was statistically (P<0.05) higher than the other treatment groups.