ABSTRACT
Commercially available preparations of cypermethrin (Clinar and Ectomin) and fenvalerate (Flytik and Ticomax, 20% E.C) were compared for their acaricidal activity against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus using adult immersion test. Adult tick mortality was higher with Ectomin compared to Clinar. Complete eclosion blocking was observed at all the tested concentrations with Ectomin while it was observed only at the highest concentration tested for Clinar. Compared to Flytik, adult tick mortality was higher with Ticomax at the tested concentrations. Complete blocking of hatching of laid ova was observed with Flytik at the highest concentration tested. At the manufacture recommended dosage of 200 ppm Ectomin elicited 93.37 per cent inhibition of fecundity, while it was 91.7 per cent for Clinar. For fenvalerate, the recommended concentration was 1200 ppm at which Ticomax showed 86 per cent and Flytik produced 80.05 per cent inhibition of fecundity respectively.
ABSTRACT
The problems associated with synthetic chemical pesticides include resistance, residues, pest resurgence and the adverse effects on non-target organisms. Hence, many ecofriendly newer alternatives are being evaluated among which one of the most important is the use of herbal agents. Many of the plant extracts or its fractions are dissolved in polar or non polar solvents or detergents before tested for acaricidal activity. The solvent or detergent used for dissolving the herbal extract should have little or no acaricidal effects. In the present study, laboratory tests were carried out on engorged female Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus ticks to detect the toxicity of common diluents such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), Tween 20 and Triton X 100 at 1% concentration. The result of the study revealed that least acaricidal activity was with Triton X 100 while the other two inhibited the hatching of eggs laid by treated ticks.
