Ovicidal Effect of Parthenin and its Derivatives on Dysdercus koenigii F. and Coreyra cephalonica (Stataton)

Parthenin, a sesquiterpene lactone, obtained from wild feverdew, Parthenium hysterophorus, was converted into different derivatives by chemical and photochemical transformations and tested for their ovicidal activity against red cotton bug, Dysdercus koenigii and rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica. The derivatives synthesized were pyrazoline adduct of parthenin (2), its pyrolised product (3) and anhydroparthenin (4) obtained by photochemical reaction besides parthenin. The ovicidal activity was maximum in compound 2 for both 0–24 and 24–48 h old eggg (109.3 and 113.4 μg mL⁻¹) against red cotton bug. According to the LC₅₀ the order of activity was 2>4>3>1 for both 0–24 and 24–48 h old eggs of red cotton bug. In case of rice moth, the order of efficacy was 2>3>4>1.