Philippine E-Journals

Insecticidal Effects of Arrowhead (Syngonium podophyllum) & Jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus) against Odorous House Ants (Tapinoma sessile)

Solita Evangeline S. Bañez

 

Abstract:

The study compared the insecticidal efficacy of aqueous and alcoholic extracts prepared from the matured leaves of two species arrowhead (Syngonium podophyllum) and jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus) against odorous house ants(Tapinoma sessile). Te study used the experimental research design in actual laboratory setup. One hundred eighty mature odorous house ants (Tapinoma sessile) of the same sizes were collected from Manangat, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. Tere were three replicates and ten trials for four treatments which include the positive and negative controls. Mean and Standard Deviation for the measured time of death of insects were employed. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the significant differences in the efficacy of insecticides used. Results showed that there is a significant interaction effects between the treatments (aqueous and alcoholic) and the kind of plant used. Arrowhead alcoholic leaf extract when compared with aqueous extract; positive and negative controls have significant differences between and among all pairs, same is true with jicama. Jicama is more effective than arrowhead in both the treatments alcoholic and aqueous, the mean difference is highly signifcant at 0.05 level. Te alcoholic extract is more effective than the aqueous. Te jicama leaf extract is more effective than arrowhead as insecticide. Te arrowhead and jicama leaves can be raw materials for the preparation of organic insecticides, particularly against ants. Further studies should be conducted using other concentrations of arrowhead and jicama plants against other insects like mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, and termites. A followup study should be conducted on insecticidal testing of other species of insects and other kinds of plants. A study using different concentrations of leaf extracts from other plants may be tested with other insects is highly recommended.