Chapter 1

Introduction

Background of the Study

Cockroaches are common pests in the tropics. They have been known to cause allergic

reactions to most people and chew holes on clothes. According to Bato Balani for Science and

Technology, Vol. 14, No. 2, the real danger of cockroach lies in their ability to transmit

sometimes lethal diseases and organisms such as Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp.,

Hepatitis viruses, and Coliform bacteria. They have been known to contaminate food, at the

same time infect it with the bacteria they carry. The bacteria they spread in food can cause food

poisoning.

People have used various instruments to control the cockroach problem in homes. The

most popular is the commonly used insecticide sprays. Most of these can destroy cockroaches

but they can also do serious damage to humans as well. According to the experts of the website

www.bayer.co.th, the active ingredients in these sprays, like tethramethrin, and petroleum

distillates can cause severe chest pains and cough attacks when inhaled.

The second most popular instrument is the cockroach coils. These coils can kill roaches

yet the active ingredients in these coils like allethrin, pynamin forte, prothrin and pyrethrin, can

cause harm to humans when inhaled. It also has an ozone-depleting ingredient.

The third most popular is the flypaper. The concept of the flypaper is simple. The

roaches just stick into it. But when they are stuck, the roaches die and carcass can spread more

bacteria.

In addition to the side effects of these materials, the costs of these insecticides are high.

All these set aside, the question on everyone’s mind is: “What can be an effective and natural

insecticide?”

Tubang Bakod (Jatropha carcas) is a common plant in the Philippines. According to the

website, www.davesgarden.com, its seeds contain a certain toxic substance known as

toxalbumin carcin, Along with other ingredients like sap, onions and weeping willow leaves, are

Tubang Bakod seeds feasible to be used as cockroach killer?