Insecticidal activity of diesel oil and synthetic plant materials against pink sugar cane mealybug Saccharicoccus sacchari (Hemiptera : Pseudococcidae)‎

Abstract EN

The pink sugar cane mealybug Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is considered one of the dangerous pests of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.).

The infestation of this pest caused poor growth and yellowing of the stem and leaves.

Physico-chemical properties of crude diesel oil and botanical synthetic materials (Thymol and camphor) were studied and prepared as emulsifiable concentrate formulation (EC).

Prepared formulations passed successfully specified testes, then their toxicity was investigated against different stages of the pink sugar cane mealybug S.

sacchari under laboratory conditions.

Results indicated that all tested formulations showed high toxicity against all tested insect stages.

The mixing, thymol or camphor with diesel oil increased toxicity of oil against S.

sacchari, whereas mixture, thymol with diesel oil was more effective than camphor with diesel oil.

LC50 values after two days of application were 4.46 and 5.01 ml/l for diesel oil, while it was 0.20 and 0.24 ml/l for mixture of oil and thymol, and 1 and 1.23 ml/l for mixture of diesel oil and camphor for nymph and adult stages of S.

sacchari respectively.

While LC50 values after three days of application were: 1.51 and 1.69 ml/l for diesel oil, while it was 0.05 and 0.12 ml/l for mixture of oil with thymol, and 0.20 and 0.17 ml/l for mixture of oil with camphor for nymph and adult stages of S.

sacchari, respectively.

Results showed that the efficacy of tested materials increased by increasing concentration and period after application.

Mixing botanical synthetic materials with diesel oil increased toxicity against pink sugar cane mealybug S.

sacchari.