Dalandan 

(Citrus aurantium  Linn.) Peelings and Calamansi (Citrofortunella microcarpa)  extract as an Alternative Fire

Ant Killer

Lea Galvez

Mariel Macaisa

JD Rivera

John Ng

10D

DLSU INTEGRATED SCHOOL

S.Y. 2013-2014

INTRODUCTION

            The reason why the researcher chose this study is to prevent the use of harmful chemicals from commercial
insecticide that can cause an imbalance in the eco system. This study will provide low cost and all natural fire ant
killer. They will test the effectiveness of this natural fire ant killer by using dalandan peelings and calamansi extract
which both contains D-limonene.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Defined Research Question

            Can dalandan peelings and calamansi extract be an alternative fire ant killer?

Other Questions

            What is in dalandan peelings and calamansi extract acts as a fire ant killer?

            How can dalandan peelings and calamansi extract kill fire ants?

HYPOTHESIS

Null Hypothesis – the natural fire ant killer does not have any effect on the ants.

Alternative Hypothesis - Baygon kills more than the natural fire ant killer.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It will benefit the households by providing them with a low cost all natural fire ant killers. It will also minimize the
use of harmful insecticides that may harm our health and environment. It changes the way dalandan peelings and
calamansi extract are viewed from garbage to innovation. These materials are easily found turning it into a more
productive output.

LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

            The extent of this study is it will provide an alternative fire ant killer with the use of dalandan peelings and
calamansi extract. The experiment will be confined mainly on fire ants.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Dalandan (Citrus aurantium Linn)

Dalandan is a fruit that is described as a small, erect tree with smooth, greenish white shoots with spine scent
thorns. The fruit is nearly spherical, 5 to 9 centimeters in diameter, the color of the skin of the dalandan is orange
red and tight, partitioned inside with yellowish juice sacks. The taste is usually sweet but its occasionally sour. The
dalandan are known to be found throughout the Philippines which is always nearly planted, warm in all countries
and it's native of the old world. (Philippine Medicinal Plants, 2013)

The other uses for alternative insecticides- Dalandan peelings mixed with pepper can actually be known to be an
alternative use for insecticides. The mixture is refer to the 2 extracted ingredients is refers as the d-limonene the
extracted from the peelings of the dalandan and capsaicin the extracted from the pepper. The D-limonene is shown
to have limited effectiveness as an insecticide producing 27% mortality in japanese beetles which is indicated in the
paper. Capsaicin has not likely been shown effectiveness for insectical activity, but it is shown to be added to the
mixture to function to disperse current infestations and as an insect repellent. (Gupta & Krischik, 2007)

                                                                                                        

Calamansi or calamondin (Citrofornella microcarpa)

Calamansi is well known in the Philippines. It is ususally used on juice that is commercially distributed. It is also used
in adding flavor to the food. Other way that it is used as a cleaner. It is sometimes used as stain remover, bleach,
body deodorant, and more. (City Agriculturist Office, 2012)

            
A research wherein calamansi extract along with onion extract is an effective insecticide, mainly to roaches. Onion’s
sulfenic acid, along with calamansi’s D-Limonene, stimulates sensory neurons, and eliminates the respiratory
system’s wax coating. (Joligon, 2012)

Fire ants (Solenopsis spp)

Households often get annoyed to pests especially ants. It can bring bacteria in our food. It can also harm our body by
means of getting inside of our body. The researchers is trying to pinpoint to find an affordable alternative and an
eco-friendly pesticide to eliminate pests mainly ants from our homes. (Deriquito, 2002)

•        Queens 15mm long.

•        Workers 3–6mm long.

•        Coppery–brown on the head and body, with a darker abdomen.

•        Solenopsis has a very distinctive two–segment antennal club, which is most visible in the front view of the
female reproductive ant.

Habits

Fire ant workers eat and collect from dead animals, insects, food (mainly sweet) and other similar things. Their
mating seasons are between until late summer. After the male ants finish reproducing with the queen, the males die.
Their nests or “mounds” can get as high as 40 cm. Ants can get aggressive and inflict pain through stinging. The result
is a reaction within the affected area, almost like an allergic reaction. (Rentokill, 2014)

METHODOLOGY

MATERIALS:

 6 kg dalandan

 3 kg calamansi

 1 cup of water

 Blender

 3 Empty spray bottle

 Baygon- used for control set up

 Pests mainly ants (30 each set up)

PROCEDURE

Making the natural fire ant killer

1. Put dalandan peelings into the blender and the squeezed extract from calamansi

2. Blend it for about 2 mins. to the highest level

3. Slightly add 1 tsp. of water depending on the desired concentration level one at a time until it becomes liquid

4. Store it in an empty spray bottle. There you have it a natural fire ant killer

Testing process

1. The researcher will have an experimental set up which is the made product with different concentrations and a
control set up which is the baygon.

2. They will be having 30 fire ants in each set up  1 spray in each treatment. They will  record the time the natural fire
ant killer can last.

3. After having so they will be observing the set ups by counting the dead ants after 15 minutes and another for 30
mins .

4. The researchers will be repeating the steps thrice . Applying it directly to fire ants and spraying it to specific spots
SOCIAL IMPACT ANALYSIS

            We want our research to be helpful to households. Our positive consequence is to make an eco-friendly
affordable insecticide. Our negative consequence is it may cause an in balance in the eco system especially of ants if
proven effective. It will terminate ants. We will ask our 10 respondents who used our natural fire ant killer the
following questions.

-Interview Questions

            Does the pesticide spray from the dalandan peelings affect us too?

            How effective is the pesticide spray? Rate it 1-10 (10 as the highest)

            Is the pesticide spray from the dalandan peelings poisonous?

            Are the dalandan peelings really effective to pests?

            Is this beneficial for the household?

                                                         

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

People can profit from our research because instead of using commercially made products they can use the
materials which our readily and easily found in our homes. They can become resourceful citizens. They don’t have to
spend much money in this product. This product is practical that not only we will gain, but also them. Especially to
the household, they will surely benefit from this research.

Items Quantity Unit price Amount

Dalandan 6 kilo Php 30 Php 180

Calamansi 3 kilo Php 30 Php 90

Items
Baygon Amount
1 spray bottle (small) Php 200 Php 200
Items that you can
sell which are
COST=
products of
research.

Natural pesticide Php 30

REVENUE=                                      NET INCOME=

DATA ANALYSIS

This study aims to interpret data approximately based on what the product will benefit the households, specifically
how effective the insecticide is. We will compile and examine our data, measuring the death rate and recording the
time it will last. We will derive the data of the experiment, which will be done and replicated 3 times. There are a
total of 4 samples, each having the same number of ants as the other. After the treatment has been applied,
observation time after time will be done. Recording the data will be based on the death rate of the specimen inside.
We will tally up everything, get the average deaths of all the samples, get the middle values of all, and the frequent
number of deaths appearing in the data.

Number of dead ants for 15 mins

Treatments 1st trial 2nd trial           3rd trial

1. baygon only

2. 25 % concentrated
with water

3. 50% concentrated
with water

4. 100 % concentrated
dalandan and calamansi
extracts

Number of dead ants for 30 mins

Treatments 1st trial 2nd trial 3rd trial

1. baygon only

2. 25 % concentrated
with water

3. 50% concentrated
with water

4. 100 % concentrated
dalandan and calamansi
extracts

WORK PLAN OF STUDY

ACTIVITIES JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR

Making of X
dalandan and
calamansi
peelings
extracta s
insecticide

Applying the X
made product
to ants

Observing the X X
set ups

Collecting of X X
data
 Interviewing of X
respondents

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Joligon, L. (2012). The Feasibility of Calamansi and Onion Extract As an Effective Cockroach     Killer. Retrieved
January 13, 2014, from http://lunajoligon19.blogspot.com/2012/03/feasibility-of-calamansi-and-onion.html           

Gupta, G. & Krischik, VA. (2007). Professional and Consumer Insecticides for Management of   Adult Japanese Beetle
on Hybrid Tea Rose. Retrieved January 13, 2014
from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17598545ordinalpos=4&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed
_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
  

Rentokill (2014). Fire Ant. Retrieved March 12, 2014 from  http://www.rentokil.com.ph/pest-guides/insects-and-
spiders/ants/fire-ant/     

Deriquito, V.(2002) Limonene in Dalandan Peels as Potential Ingredient in Ant Repellant Coating. Retrieved March
13, 2014 from http://scinet.dost.gov.ph/union/ShowSearchResult.php?
s=2&f=&p=&x=&page=&sid=1&id=Limonene+in+dalandan+peels+as+potential+ingredient+in+ant+repellant+coating
&Mtype=PROJECTS

City Agriculturist Office (2012). Calamansi. Retrieved March 13, 2014 from

http://www.davaocity.gov.ph/agri/downloads/CALAMANSI20120217135311.pdf

http://stuartxchange.com/Dalandan.html