The Effect of Some Plant Extracts on the Larval Stage of Fig

Leaf Moth, Ocnerogyia Amanda (strg.) (Lepidoptera:

Lymantriidae)

P A Jalil1*, K A A2 and A M Amin3

1
Plant Protection Department, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Salahaddin
University, Erbil.
2
Field Crop Department, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Salahaddin University,
Erbil.
3
Forestry Department, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Salahaddin University,
Erbil.

*Corresponding author E-mail: Pshtiwan.jalil@su.edu.krd

Abstract. The current study represented the effect of natural plant extracts of (Camel grass,
Alhaji maurorum Lemon; Lantana, Lantana salvifolia; Lemon, Citrus limon, and Cupressus,
Cupressus sp.,) formulated in three different concentrations) 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 %) and sprayed
on the larvae of fig leaf moth, Ocnerogyia amanda Staud, under the laboratory condition. The
lethal effect of selected plant extracts, and their concentration on the larval reduction and its
bionomics were detected in two different inspection times after application with their interaction.

1. Introduction
Fig leaf moth, Ocnerogyia amanda (Staud.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) is one of a serious pest of
fig tree carica L. in Iraq especially in the northern part [1]. Larva is an injurious stage which starts
to feed on the leaves after 24 hours of hatching directly. Developed instars consumed most
vegetative parts of a tree in a way that just the essential veins and midribs in severe attaching are
remained [2, 3]. Fig tree, Ficus carica L. is an economically important agricultural product as an
income source for village farmers, and it is more flourished from rain forest vegetation particularly
in the lowlands [26]. Fig trees attached by different species of insect pests which have negative
impact in declining seasonal produces [4]. There are some countries in where agriculture is more
developed and the pests of the trees are less known than Kurdistan region. The resulting records are
in the expectation of improving what has been earlier available on life history of fig leave moth in
Iraq [5] and [6]. The comparison of the present notes with data in the literature has shown that
there is a considerable lack of information about the damage of this dangerous caterpillar on fig
especially in Kurdistan region. The present study was aimed to cover these existing gaps of limiting
the damage of fig leaf caterpillar via eco-friendly technique to manage the outbreak of this serious
pest, and their population densities as a result of preventing the abundance of the inhabitants and
decreasing its economic damage.

2. Materials and Methods

The study was carried out in the Plant Protection department at the college of Agricultural
Engineering Sciences, Salahaddin University, Erbil.

2.1 Preparation of Plant Extractions

The plant used parts of selected plants (Table 1) were washed by fresh water then grained after
being weighted. The extracts were prepared by graining 50 gm of stems and leaves with 500 ml
ethanol alcohol via using sucsuholate apparatus then we concentrated on the extract by the aid of
rotary evaporator and kept it in refrigerator until its being used [7].
Table 1. Common, and scientific names of the selected plants with their used parts
No. Common name Scientific name Parts used
1- Camel thorn grass Alhaji maurorum leaves and stems
2- Lantana Lantana salvifolia Leaves and stems
3- Lemon Citrus limon Leaves
4- Cupressus Cupressus sp. Leaves

2.2 Determination of Chemical Composition of Selected Plants:

There are various ways tested for screening phytochemical activity. Using the solvent type for
extraction and the extraction technique are of great significance as they will define the chemical
constituents in the extract [8]. Also, the optimal solvent depends on the eventual purpose of the
extract. Aqueous or solvent extraction, Soxhlet techniques, and steam distillation were used for the
process of extraction [9] and [10]. The examined plant parts were cleaned and washed with water
and then they were air-dried in the laboratory. The sample was then processed into a fine powder
using a mortar device. The powder was sieved and then kept in a dark bottle for subsequent screening
of chemical components. The extracts were evaluated qualitatively for the presence of alkaloids,
anthraquinones, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins, and volatile oils.

2.2.1 Alkaloids Test

Two milliliters (2) ml of grass extract was stirred with (2) ml of 10% aqueous hydrochloride acid
(HCl), and for Wagner’s reagent, one milliliter (1) ml of the filtrate was treated with few drops of
the reagent. Appearing of a reddish-brown precipitate indicated the presence of alkaloids in the
extract [11].

2.2.2 Anthraquinone Test

Five grams (5) gm of the grass powdered were shaken with (10) ml benzene, and (5) ml of 10%
ammonia solution were added to the filtrate. The mixture was well shaken. A pinkish-red or
violet color indicated the incidence of Anthraquinone, and glycoside resultant [12].

2.2.3 Flavonoids Test

Three milliliters (3) ml aliquot of the filtrate made alkaline with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). A
yellow color which indicated the possible presence of a flavonoids was settled [13].

2.2.4 Tannins Test

A few drops of Ferric Chloride solution (FeCl3 1%) were added drop by drop to (2-3) ml of the
extract. A dark green colored or blue-black precipitate indicated the occurrence of tannins [14].

2.2.5 Terpenoids Test

In glass test tubes, (5) ml stock solution of extract were mixed with (2) ml chloroform followed by
(2) ml concentrated Sulfuric acid. A reddish-brown coloration proposed the presence of terpenoids
[15].

2.2.6 Saponins Test

Two grams of the extract powder was placed into a test tube, (5) ml of water were added and the
mixture was shaken intensely. The whole tube was added and it was filled which lasted for some
minutes. Bubbles created indicated the presence of saponin [16].

2.2.7 Volatile Oils Test

One ml of the extract was mixed with diluted Hydrochloric acid. Forming of white precipitation
indicated the presence of volatile oils [17].
2.3 Design and Data Analysis
The study was carried out using Complete Randomize Design (CRD) experiment in the laboratory.
The treatments were distributed on the experimental units with three replications where 10 active
larvae located in each Petri dish. All the data obtained were statistically analyzed using the SPSS
program (version 26), and the experiment was used to show significance among the treatments [18].

2.4 Larval Collection

Hibernated larvae of fig leaf moth were collected on the leaves and twigs from infested fig shrubs
and trees in different locations of (Bnaslawa, Badawa, Murtka, Qushtapa and the city center). The
collected larvae were then kept in a rearing cage (40×40×60 cm) under laboratory conditions until
they were used to carry out the experiments (Figure1).

2.5 Laboratory Trial:

Larvae with fig leaves were regularly distributed on the treatments in Petridis, and leaves were
sprayed by using selected plant extracts with the concentrations (25, 50, and 75%). Treated petri-
dishes were inspected after 6 and 24 hours and counting the death larvae with the aid of binocular
microscope. For calculating the rate of larval mortality, we use the following formula [19].

Figure 1. Fig leaf moth, Ocnerogyia amanda; 1-Egg stage, 2- Larval stage, 3- Adult moth, and
4- Damage symptom
3. Results and Discussion
The results were showed that the extracts of all selected plants had an active lethal effect in reduction of
fig leaf caterpillars in three different concentrations 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75%, respectively in comparison
with control. Also, the results indicated that the lethal effect in all treatments increased by more than
10% in the first and second inspection respectively, and there was a significant variance between them.
As shown in Table (2), the rate of larval mortality caused by Cupressus extract reached gradually from
0.67, 0.76 and 0.82% in the concentrations 0.25, 0.50, and 75% respectively, and it had a high lethal
impact. While the Lanthana extract had less significant effect than the other extracts, the concentrations
of 0.25 and 50% didn’t have notable differences, but the extract in 0.75 concentration reached to 0.62.
Both of Camel thorn grass, and Lemon extract had almost the same lethal impact and presented high
mortal efficacy in all concentrations.

Table 1. The effect of different concentrations of selected plant extracts on fig leaf
caterpillar, Ocnerogyia amanda in first inspection
Larval mortality %
No. Plant extract
0.25% 0.50% 0.75%
concentration concentration concentration
1- Camel
thorn grass 0.62 b 0.74 a 0.78 b
2- Lantana 0.50 c 0.55 c 0.62 c
3- Lemon 0.68 a 0.66 b 0.78 b
4- Cupressus 0.67 a 0.76 a 0.82 a
* Control 0.22 d 0.25 d 0.33 d
Means with the same letter in a column are not significantly different by Duncan multiple test at p ≤ 0.05.

Table (3), showed that the rate of larval mortality was high for the Lemon and Cupressus extract
and had more reductions that were documented at second inspection after spraying, i.e. they were 0.82,
0.82, 0.83 and 0.80, 0.81, 0.85 in 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75% concentrations respectively. Moreover,
mortality effects of Camel thorn, and Lantana extract had a fewer reduction in second inspection, i.e.
were (0.66, 0.72, and 0.76) and (0.56, 0.63, and 0.71) in 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 concentrations
respectively. To sum up, all selected plant extracts had significant efficiency in reducing the larval
population of fig leaf moth in comparison with the control and the exposure time.

Table 3. The effect of different concentrations of selected plant extracts on fig leaf caterpillar,
Ocnerogyia amanda in second inspection
Larval mortality %
No. Plant extract 0.25% 0.50% 0.75%
Concentration concentration concentration
1- Camel thorn grass 0.66 c 0.72 b 0.76 b
2- Lantana 0.56 b 0.63 c 0.71 c
3- Lemon 0.82 a 0.82 a 0.83 a
4- Cupressus 0.80 a 0.81 a 0.85 a
* Control 0.23 d 0.26 d 0.34 d
Means with the same letter in a column are not significantly different by Duncan multiple test at p ≤ 0.05.
As shown in table (4) the rate of mortality increased in all examined plant extracts in the second
observation which proved highly significant among different concentrations except the camel thorn
grass which didn’t have significant differences in both inspection times.

Table 4. The effect of different concentrations of selected plant extracts on fig leaf caterpillar,
Ocnerogyia amanda in two different time
Larval mortality %
No. Plant extract First Inspection Second Inspection
1- Camel thorn grass 0.71 a 0.71 b
2- Lantana 0.55 c 0.63 c
3- Lemon 0.70 b 0.81 a
4- Cupressus 0.75 a 0.82 a
* Control 0.26 d 0.27 d
Means with the same letter in a column are not significantly different by Duncan multiple test at p ≤ 0.05.

The use of botanical pesticides for protecting orchards from insect pests has expected more
importance all over the world due to rising awareness of the dangerous effects of using non-selective
synthetic pesticides [20] and [21]. The presence of phytochemical components in the plants, Camel
thorn, Lanthana, Lemon and Cupressus, more than seven different compounds discovered in the
extracted substances indicated that the leaves of these plants are rich in chemical ingredients due to the
high amount of phenols, anthraquinonoids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins [22]. The high presence
of steroids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins could be a justification for using plant extracts as a fatal
agent in insect control planning [23]. Saponins are active agents in plants and have a main role in
repellence mechanism against herbivores [24]. The presence of tannin has severe lethal properties [25]
and [26]. According to [27] flavonoids are known to kill insects. Accordingly, there could be a
scientific basis for the use of cupressus and Lemon leaves which are reportedly useful for the treatment
of the problem of this pest.

4. Conclusion
Based on the results of the present study, we arrived at that the chemical composition of the selected
plants has an effective role in preventing and controlling the larval outbreak of fig leaf moth, Ocnerogyia
Amanda. Hence, the components of selected plants can be depended on as an effective method for insect
pest control planners. Cupressus and Lemon leaves extract has more reduction rates than the Camel
thorn grass and Lanthana extract. Using of phytochemicals against this dangerous insect is manageable
by smallholder farmers and has a positive role in the protection of the environment and human health.

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