Ovicidal efficacy of plant extracts In Spodoptera frugiperda smith and Spodopteralitura fab. (Lepidoptera: Noctiduae)

The ovicidal activities of five plant leaf ethanol extracts was evaluated in two major agricultural insect pests of S. frugiperda and S. litura eggs using dipping method. Ovicidal activity increased with increasing concentration of leaf extracts. The extract of Argemone mexicana showed the strongest ovicidal activity against Spodoptera frugiperda eggs with LC₅₀ value of 11.72 mg/ml followed by Clerodendrum viscosum with LC₅₀ value of 13.75 mg/ml. In the case of Spodoptera litura, the plant extract of Clerodendrum inerme (LC₅₀ =20.46 mg/ml) and Argemone mexicana (LC₅₀ =21.82 mg/ml) revealed the highest ovicidal activity, followed by Vitex negundo (LC₅₀ =23.48 mg/ml). The results clearly showed that all plant extracts were more toxic to Spodoptera frugiperda eggs than the eggs of Spodoptera litura. Present results indicated that Argemone mexicana and Clerodendrum inerme plants can be used in integrated pest management programme.