Efficacy of Several Plants Extracts on the Tunneling Activity and Survival of Subterranean Termites (Coptotermes gestroi and Globitermes sulphureus)
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Abstract
This study examined the tunneling activity and the behaviour of two subterranean termites, Globitermes sulphurues and Coptotermes gestroi treated with four plant extracts, namely Pyllanthus niruri, Azadirachta indica, Leucaena leucocephala and Andrographis paniculata. All plants were extracted with three different solvents (methanol, hexane and water) and were diluted into three concentrations (500, 5,000 and 10,000 ppm). A group of 50 workers and 2 soldiers were tested and observed daily during the exposure in order to determine their survivorship and behaviour. Both sections were scored to determine their tunneling activities after seven days. There was a significant difference of tunneling activities of C. gestroi on sand treated with plant extracts (X2(2) = 31.790, p < 0.0001) with a mean rank of 8.50 for methanolic extracts and 32.50 for both hexane and water extracts. Meanwhile, no significant difference was observed on tunneling activity of G. sulphureus on treated sand (X2(2) = 2.200, p = 0.333) with a mean rank of 20.72 for methanolic extracts, 26.31 for water extracts and 26.47 for hexane extracts. Results showed that plants extracted with methanol demonstrated strong repellent properties with 0 tunneling activity on the treated sand and low survivorship of both termites. Moreover, both termites did not survive (0%) when they were treated with methanolic extracts at 10,000 ppm. They also displayed a different behaviour post-exposure such as avoidance, gradually losing the ability to walk and low feeding consumption. These results indicate that there is a strong termiticidal activity of plants extracted with methanol against C. gestroi and G. sulphureus.
Kajian ini mengkaji aktiviti menerowong dan tingkah laku anai-anai bawah tanah, Globitermes sulphurues dan Coptotermes gestroi apabila dirawat dengan empat ekstrak tumbuhan iaitu Pyllanthus niruri, Azadirachta indica, Leucaena leucocephala dan Andrographis paniculata melalui kaedah piring petri. Tumbuh-tumbuhan telah diekstrak dengan pelarut yang berbeza (metanol, heksana dan air), dan mempunyai tiga kepekatan (500, 5,000 dan 10,000 ppm). Seramai 50 ekor pekerja dan 2 ekor askar anai-anai telah digunakan untuk ujikaji dan setiap hari, mereka diperhatikan sepanjang ujian dijalankan untuk menilai kemandirian anai-anai dan tingkah laku mereka. Selepas tujuh hari, keduadua bahagian telah dinilai untuk menentukan aktiviti terowong mereka. Ujian Kruskal-Walis H menunjukkan bahawa aktiviti menerowong daripada C. gestroi adalah berbeza antara satu sama lain apabila dirawat dengan tumbuhan yang telah diekstrak oleh pelarut yang berbeza (X2 (2) = 31.790, p < 0.0001), dengan pangkat min 8.50 untuk ekstrak tumbuhan metanol dan 32.50 untuk ekstrak tumbuhan heksana dan air. Sementara itu, G. sulphureus tidak menunjukkan perbezaan yang ketara dalam aktiviti terowong pada pasir terawat, (X2 (2) = 2.200, p = 0.333) dengan pangkat purata 20.72 untuk ekstrak tumbuhan metanol, 26.31 untuk ekstrak tumbuhan air dan 26.47 untuk ekstrak tumbuhan heksana. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa semua tumbuhan yang diekstrak dengan metanol menunjukkan ciriciri mengusir yang kuat dengan 0 aktiviti terowong pada pasir terawat dan kelangsungan anai-anai yang rendah. Selain itu, 0% kelangsungan telah dilihat apabila kedua-dua spesis anai-anai dirawat dengan ekstrak tumbuhan metanol pada 10,000 ppm. Kedua-dua spesis anai-anai ini menunjukkan tingkah laku yang berbeza selepas tamat ujikaji seperti kelakuan mengelak, kehilangan keupayaan untuk berjalan secara perlahan dan makan dalam kuantiti yang sedikit. Hasil kajian ini berjaya membuktikan bahawa tumbuhan yang diekstrak dengan metanol mempunyai aktiviti racun anai-anai yang tinggi terhadap C. gestroi dan G. sulphureus.
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