Acaricidal activity of different fractions of Moringa peregrina on two spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae)

The acaricidal, oviposition deterrence and repellent activity of the subsequent nonpolar to polar extracts and fractions of Moringa peregrina (Forssk.) Fiori Agricolt. was studied against Tetranychus urticae Koch under laboratory conditions at 25 +/- 1 degrees C, 65 +/- 5% RH and 16:8 (L:D) h. Leaf disc method was employed to study the acaricidal activity of the fractions. The statistical analysis revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction had the highest contact toxicity and repellency. The LC50 of the ethyl acetate fraction was 4.259 mg ml(-1), showing a significant decrease compared to other fractions. The remaining LC50 values of the samples were 6.464 mg ml(-1) (methanol), 7.992 mg ml(-1) (butanol), 9.742 mg ml(-1) (chloroform) and 10.350 mg ml(-1) (hexane). Up to six hours after treatment, no mites were found in the area treated with ethyl acetate fraction. Hexane (70.25%) and chloroform (22.59%) extracts had the highest and the lowest ovicidal activity at 8 mg ml(-1). However, at 4 mg ml(-1), chloroform extract had the most oviposition deterrence (21.67%). From the findings, it could be concluded that, the ethyl acetate fraction of M. peregrina is contained effective bioactive compounds against T. urticae. Therefore, further investigations are necessary for commercialization of this promising product for the agrochemicals industries of the natural pesticides.