Efficacy of Local Ageratum conyzoides Leaf Extracts on Controlling the Poultry Pest Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Abstract

Ageratum conyzoides Linn (Asteraceae) is known to have an insecticidal effect against agricultural-pest insects, but its activity has never been tested for its efficacy against the poultry pest Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) in Indonesia. This study aimed to analyze the phytochemical compounds of local A. conyzoides L. leaf extract and verify its efficacy against A. diaperinus under laboratory conditions. Efficacy of the extract was measured based on % mortality, % repellency, and production inhibition on A. diaperinus. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test. GC-MS analysis found that extract of local A. conyzoides L. leaves contained ten main compounds, with the highest percentage of peak area being phenolic compounds, followed by other important compounds, most of which were essential oils. High mortality was found in the C75 and C100 groups at 36 h post- treatment, at 77.6% and 96.2%, respectively. A. diaperinus gave a denial response to all extract treatments, but the highest % repellence was found in the extract treatment of C100. The number of larval emergences was influenced by the concentration level, where the C25 and C50 treatments were able to reduce the number of larval emergences by 58.52% and 70.37%, respectively. We concluded that these extracts of local A. conyzoides L. are efficacious as a bioinsecticide to A. diaperinus. Thus, the results of this study can be used as the basis for the development of local bioinsecticides for the control of the poultry pest A. diaperinus, especially in smallholder poultry farm systems.