INTRODUCTION

Nature and humanity both confront the same problems in today's generation: climate
change and pollution. Furthermore, the Pemphigus Betae is recognized for causing certain
unhealthy plant development. With its sharp needle-like mouthparts, the insect feeds by sucking
sap from plant roots. The aphid infests the plant's root, causing chlorosis (a sickly yellowish color
caused by a lack of chlorophyll), which eventually leads to the plant's death. (Edde, 2022). The
commercially available pesticide can risk the decrease of soil quality and water retention.
Furthermore, it is said that newly developed pesticides cost more than the already available ones.
In contrast to this, Urtica dioica can be used as an alternative pesticide against aphids like the
Pemphigus betae as it serves the multiple advantages compared to commercial pesticides.
Urtica Dioica, often known as stinging nettle, is a plant with pointed leaves and white
yellowish flowers and it is typically 2-4 meters tall. This plant has numerous medicinal
properties, and we make herbal treatments from all parts of the plant, including the leaf, seed, and
root. As a result, this nettle can be utilized in the garden as a fertilizer, pesticide, and compost
activator. (Forrest Green Farm, n.d).
Over the world, the Pemphigus betae has a complicated and variable life cycle, and it is
normally heteroecious and holocyclic. Aphid infestations can result in considerable yield, sugar
content, and recoverable sugar losses. Accurately establishing population densities for root aphids
presents a challenge, because the economic important stage of this insect is subterranean. The
application of a fall root rating index, on the other hand, can help estimate relative population
densities. Furthermore, root aphids are particularly difficult to eradicate with traditional
insecticides. For this reason, integrated pest management tactics, including the use of host plant
resistance, cultural control techniques, and the use of natural enemies, should take precedence.
(Pretorius et. al 2016). Urtica dioica (stinging nettle) is a perennial plant in the Urticaceae family
that belongs to the genus Urtica. Although nettle's usage in folk veterinary medicine is
extensively documented, U.S. Today, dioica is an underappreciated and frequently overlooked
plant, regarded by modern agriculture as a weed to be eradicated. This brief overview focuses on
recent research on the administration of U. dioica, either alone or in combination with other
herbs, has been shown to boost growth and boost immune in farmed fish, making them more
resistant to bacterial illnesses. This new trait, together with the herb's cost-effectiveness, ample
availability, and ease of processing, could make nettle a great, low-cost, and extensively utilized
dietary supplement on intensive fish farms. (De Vico et. al, 2018).
In the Philippines, the most popular nettle species that are used to make nettle tea is
Urtica dioica commonly known as nettle or Lipang-aso in Tagalog, is a particularly undervalued
plant in the Philippines. Since it is considered a weed and contains stinging hairs, it is usually
uprooted or avoided. However, it has been used traditionally in the Philippines as remedy for
muscle pains, carbuncles, asthma and cough. (de Guzman et. al, 2015).
This study aims to make Urtica Dioica as an alternative insecticide instead of
commercially available ones that are harmful and poisonous compounds that may adversely
affect other organisms besides harmful insects. We researchers believe that this study will help us
to explore the quantitative aphicidal effect of using Urtica Dioica extract on Pemphigus betae.
Aside from this, we also believe that this will help us differentiate the aphicidal effect of using
Urtica Dioica extract on Pemphigus beta from other insecticides.