Coleoptericidal activity of an enzymatic extract of Neem (Azadirachta indica) on Aethina tumida

This work aimed to obtain enzymatic extracts from green, dried, and frozen neem seeds and to evaluate the coleoptericidal effect on Aethina tumida in the larval stage. In the first phase, the effect of freezing (-20 degrees C) and dehydration (50 degrees C) of the green seed on the release of azadirachtin A was evaluated. Subsequently, the enzymatic extraction was carried out using the Crystalzyme (R) PLMX preparation, followed by an 80 % alcohol extraction (v v-1). The alcoholic extract was roto evaporated and its coleoptericidal activity on Aethina tumida larvae and adults was evaluated using the Burgerjon Tower with concentrations of 0, 0.05, 0.5, 50, and 500 ppm of azadirachtin A. The results indicated that there is no statistically significant difference in the concentration of azadirachtin A when dehydrating or freezing the neem seeds, likewise, the extracts with 500 ppm of azadirachtin A promoted 100 % mortality of larvae at 48 h, the LC50 and LC90 calculated were 0.58 and 77.67 ppm, respectively. According to these results, it is concluded that the enzymatic extracts of neem seeds are a viable alternative for the biological control of Aethina tumida in the larval stage.