Chapter 1 Introduction

1.1. Background of the study

In a natural environment, termites (also known as “Anay”) are actually useful to the ecology because
they help to break down nutrients from dead trees and plants. However, termites become a formidable
threat when they invade our living space. Based on a research, an average house repair costs an
estimate of P205,000. The bigger the property the higher the cost to repair or renovate it and termites
can be the cause of these damages.

In the Philippines, termite damage is actually much more common compared to fire and flood because
our tropical environment and high humidity encourage the growth of termite population. As they can
feed on wood for 24 hours-a-day without sleeping, a termite infestation can quickly lead to costly
repairs and structural failure.

termites usually enter a building from the soil along its foundation or through cracks in the
slab, expansion joints, weep holes, voids in brick or block and around plumbing. In such
cases, the structural moisture problems may be as damaging to the home as
the termite activity. In order to get rid of these, there are plenty of pesticides or termite killer
that’s all around the market. Not only they are expensive but also poisons and,
unfortunately, they can harm more than just the “pests” at which they are targeted. They are
toxic, and exposure to pesticides can not only cause a number of health effects, but is linked
to a range of serious illnesses and diseases in humans, from respiratory problems
to cancer. That is why inventing organic and non-toxic insect killer can ease the risk of
having health issues

Garlic is an herb that is grown around the world. It is related to onion, leeks, and chives. It is thought
that garlic is native to Siberia, but spread to other parts of the world over 5000 years ago. Garlic is
used for many conditions related to the heart and blood system. Garlic bulbs has an amino acid that
converts to a substance called allice when crushed, blended or chopped. The characteristic odor
released as result of this process has powerful properties. Also has a Solapur content and the
antibacterial properties it is also good to help ward off certain molds, and fungus as well.
On the other side. The lemon, Citrus lemon (L.) Osbeck, is a species of small evergreen tree in the
flowering plant family Rutaceae, native to South Asia, primarily North eastern India. The tree's
ellipsoidal yellow fruit is used for culinary and non-culinary purposes throughout the world, primarily for
its juice, which has both culinary and cleaning uses.[2] The pulp and rind (zest) are also used in cooking
and baking. The juice of the lemon is about 5% to 6% citric acid, with a pH of around 2.2, giving it a sour
taste. The distinctive sour taste of lemon juice makes it a key ingredient in drinks and foods such as
lemonade and lemon meringue pie.[2] A genomic study of the lemon indicated it was a hybrid between
bitter orange (sour orange) and citron.[3][4] Lemons are a rich source of vitamin C, providing 64% of the
Daily Value in a 100 g serving (table). Other essential nutrients, however, have insignificant content
(table).

Lemons contain numerous phytochemicals, including polyphenols, terrenes, and tannins.[14] Lemon
juice contains slightly more citric acid than lime juice (about 47 g/l), nearly twice the citric acid of
grapefruit juice, and about five times the amount of citric acid found in orange juice.[15]

1.2. Statement of the problem

Today, due to the fact that termites can damage your house anytime soon and buying termicide
from the market can cause a lot of disadvantages like getting a health risk, buying high priced
products can cause you more disruptions. This study aimed to addressing the inconvenience of
using chemical products to produce a natural and organic termite repellent by:
 Proposing an alternate termite repellent out of vegetables and fruits that are commonly seen in
houses.

1.3. Hypothesis

This product of ours may face limitations of killing larger insects. The aftereffects of spraying
our products to cockroaches and spider may just make them dizzy and fainted for a while but there’s
no assurance of instantly killing them. The ingredients used are limited, it is not as strong as with the
insecticides from the markets. Ours does not contain any harmful chemicals compared to others
which can eliminate insects but are toxic. We can say that the other products can kill many insects
but in our experiment, we tried to have an insecticide that is less in chemicals because one our main
objectives is to have an insecticide which is safer to humans and environment.

1.4. Objectives
1.2.1 To propose an alternative insecticide for consumers.
1.2.2 Will this product be as effective and safer to use rather than common
insecticides?
1.2.3 Aims to produce insecticide out of lemon and garlic

1.5. Significance of the study

 This study was conducted for the beneficial effects of every community. This organic homemade
insecticide is non-toxic to humans and pets and safe for the environment since it’s based on natural
ingredients and contains the simplest chemicals..
Using a non-toxic, and insect-repelling which is easier to use on children and very effective.

1.6. Scope and limitation

This study focuses on the utilization of lemon and garlic clove as ant repellent against termites.

1.7. Definition of terms

Amino acid- Amino acids are organic compounds containing amine and carboxyl functional groups,
along with a side chain specific to each amino acid. The key elements of an amino acid are carbon,
hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, although other elements are found in the side chains of certain
amino acids.

Allicin-When fresh garlic is chopped or crushed, the enzyme alliinase converts alliin into allicin,
which is responsible for the aroma of fresh garlic. The allicin generated is unstable and quickly
changes into a series of other sulfur-containing compounds such as diallyl disulfide.

Citric Acid-The trails that ants leave can be eliminated with citric acid. Citrus sprays and cleaners are
great for eliminating the chemical trail left by the ants.
 Chapter 2 Review of Related literature

Studies on the wood preserving techniques against subterranean termites have been undertaken
with a view to promote the use of inorganic indigenous pesticides in our country. The thin films
of gelatine solution (glue of animal hides) containing 10% calcium carbonate or 5% copper
sulphate as well as sodium silicate solution containing 12% calcium carbonate +10% zinc oxide
coated separately on wooden stakes prevented termite attack in soil up to 2, 4 and 5 years,
respectively. Whereas control wooden stakes were found to be severely damaged by termites
within 6 months. Stakes coated with Solignum®-white used as standard wood preservative for
comparison remained free from termite infestation for a period of 5 years.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01903465

Garlic makes a powerful natural insect repellent. Garlic can be used to repel a variety of
crawling and flying insects, including mosquitoes,” according to Patrick Parker , SavATree
Plant Health Care Program Director. One treatment with garlic is effective for 2 weeks and
can repel insects for up to one month.

https://www.savatree.com/garlic-insect-repellent.html

Chili pepper has many nutritional benefits and is widely used as spice among Asian
countries. It has also the capability to kill insects found in common households. Keeping in
view these facts about Chili pepper and its usability, this study aims to test the efficacy of
Chili pepper fruit extract against wood termites. Squeezing method was used to get the
juices from the fruit. Fifteen termites were collected from dry wood. They were then placed
into three closed containers, sprayed by the extract and observed within 12 hours. Result
showed no effects on termites in container A (control group), however, in container B that
has 100 percent concentration of the extract, termites were killed abruptly in 5 minutes and
after two hours, termites were dead in container C (50 % of chili pepper fruit extract and
50% distilled water). Thus, Fruit extract of chili pepper has positive effects as insecticide
against household termites

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308063556_Testing_the_Insecticidal_Potential_of_Chili
_Pepper_Capsicum_frutescens_Fruit_Extract_against_Termites_Coptotermes_gestroi

Leaf and seed crude extracts at three concentrations (high, medium and low) of Euphorbia
helioscopia L., Cannabis sativa L., and Calotropis procera (Ait.) were tested against workers
and soldiers (4-5th instar) of Microtermes obesi Holmgren and Odontotermes
lokanandi Chatarjee and Thakur (Blattodea: Termitidae). Results revealed that all extracts
showed moderate toxic effect. 100% mortalities were found in M. obesi and O. lokanandi on
day 11 and 7 respectively. Our results showed that Mortalities in both species were
concentration depended. Maximum mortalities were observed in high concentration,
followed by medium and low. Our results also indicated that M. obesi was more resistant
than O. lokanandi.

https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/efficacy-of-plant-extracts-against-subterranean-
termites-ie-microtermes-obesi-and-odontotermes-lokanandi-blattodeatermitidae-2376-
0214.1000122.php?aid=28093

For their termite study, Peterson and Ems-Wilson infused sand with catnip essential oil--the kind
routinely sold in pet stores--to test the effectiveness of the oil as a barrier to termite tunneling. To
test vertical tunneling, the researchers placed yellow pine sapwood in the bottom of a test tube filled
with sand. A two-inch barrier of catnip-treated sand separated the termites in the top layer of
untreated sand from the pine. To test horizontal tunneling, the researchers constructed a barrier of
treated sand across the middle of a transparent box of sand, again with the tempting pine placed
across the barrier from the termites. In both tests, catnip oil reduced or eliminated termite tunneling.

Peterson and Ems-Wilson also tested the catnip oil for its toxicity to termites by treating them directly
with a dilution of the oil, fumigating them, and exposing them to catnip-infused soil. The researchers
carefully counted the termites in the multiple tests on barriers to make sure the barrier-effect they
found was not due to termite mortality.

"At higher concentrations, the oil does kill termites, but not as effectively as the commercial
compounds currently used in soil treatments," said Peterson. "Our results show that catnip oil is a
very effective deterrent to termite tunneling, with the effective doses tested much lower than those
reported for similar natural products."

Unfortunately, catnip oil breaks down quickly in the environment. The chemicals now used to prevent
termite infestation must remain effective for more than five years in government testing. "There is the
inevitable tradeoff," said Peterson. "Chemicals that last a long time also have greater potential for
environmental damage. We hope that the active ingredients in catnip oil can eventually be modified
to last longer."

Peterson emphasizes that his experiments are preliminary: catnip oil has not been officially tested
for safety and effectiveness in the field. "The other factor is cost," said Peterson. "Catnip oil is much
too expensive to use at effective rates when compared to other compounds. Until a way is found to
produce the oil competitively and formulate it for long-term use, its only practical use would be for
controlling isolated populations of termites."

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/03/030326073708.htm