Bioefficacy of Tinospora cordifolia and Phyllanthus niruri Plants against Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) and Dysdercus koenigii (Fabricius)

Hexane and alcoholic extracts of leaves of Phyllanthus niruri and woody parts of Tinospora cordifolia were tried for the bioefficacy along with parthenin, isolated from Parthenium hysterophorus and the neem extract containing 100 ppm azadirachtin-A against test insects Spodoptera litura and Dysdercus koenigii. The alcoholic extract of T. cordifolia has been found to have great potential in insect management, as it was more effective than neem extract both in terms of mortality and IGR activity. Total 36% mortality was observed in no-choice method treatment of S. litura with alcoholic extract of T. cordifolia compared to 23% with neem The number of normal adults emerged on castor leaves treated with alcoholic extract of T. cordifolia were 20% compared to 37% on leaves treated with neem extract Ethyl acetate fraction of alcoholic extract of T.ordifolia (reported earlier to contain ecdysteroids responsible for moulting in insects) was found to be responsible for the IGR activity of T cordifolia against S litura In another experiment the alcoholic extract of T cordifolia inhibited the hatching of eggs of D koenigii as per cent reduction of 0–24 h old eggs was 53 4 while those of 24–48 h old eggs 49 compared to 41 and 37’ respectively with neem.