Evaluation of Melia azedarach Extracts against American Bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

MAHA SINGH JAGLAN, K S KHOKHAR, SUCHETA KHOKHAR & RAM SINGH (Dept Ent, CCS Haryana Agr Univ, Hisar; India): Evaluation of Melia azedarach Extracts against American Bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). - Entomol Geller 34 (1/2): 075-090; Stuttgart 2012-09. - [Article] Melia azedarach (Linnaeus 1753) drupes and green leaves extracts (methanol and chloroform:methanol) were evaluated against American bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner 1806). Various concentrations of extracts were used to treat natural foods, viz leaves and pods/bolls of chickpea, pigeonpea, and cotton. Treated foods were offered to early stage (neonate) and advanced stage (grown up) larvae of H armigera for 48 h, and then, untreated food was offered for the rest of life. Chloroform:methanol (9:1) extracts of M azedarach drupes and leaves showed better insecticidal properties than methanol extracts. However,Mazedarach drupes extract in chloroform:methanol (9:1) was the most promising in causing adverse morphogenic effect on various biological parameters of H armigera. Early stage larvae were more sensitive to the exposure of M azedarach extracts than advanced stage larvae.