Ovicidal Activity of Plant Extracts against Spodoptera Litura (Fab) (Lepidoptera: Noctiduae)

Chemical and synthetic insecticides used for controlling Spodoptera litura resulted in the development of resistance to several classes of insecticides. In the present study, a total of twenty five plants were screened for their ovicidal activity against Spodoptera litura. Hexane, diethyl ether, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extract of twenty five plants were studied at 0.1% concentration. Effective plant extracts identified from the preliminary study (0.1%) were further studied at 0.05% concentration. Maximum ovicidal activity was recorded in hexane extract of Cleistanthus collinus (85.16%) followed by Murraya koeingii diethyl ether (83.60%) and Aegle marmelos ethyl acetate (76.14%) extract at 0.05%. Further isolation and identification of bioactive principles responsible for the ovicidal activity is needed.