Insecticidal activity of entomopathogenic fungi and neem-based biopesticide (Azadirachta indica) on Spodoptera litura

¹ Research Center for Biomaterials, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Indonesia
² Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Mulawarman University, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: apriwi07@yahoo.com

Abstract

Chemical pesticide has been used extensively to control Spodoptera litura that attack economically important crops.The use of synthetic pesticides with high intensity is detrimental to the quality of life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the insecticidal activity of entomopathogenic fungi and neem-based biopesticide on S. litura using spraying and forced feeding method. The treatments were spore solution of Trichoderma viride, Metarhizium sp. T4.B23, Metarhizium sp. B2.2 applied at 10⁸ spores/mL, biopesticide formulation containing neem extract (Agr1) at 10% (v/v), and water as control. Each treatment was sprayed 0.3 mL directly onto larvae of S. litura while in forced feeding method, the larvae were fed on 1 gr of treated water spinach. Entomopathogenic fungal spore solution did not show efficacy on S litura larvae in both methods, while Agr 1 caused 90 and 40% mortality in spraying and forced feeding method, respectively. Furthermore, the efficacy of Agr 1 was compared to Agr 2 that contains neem extract and wood vinegar. Agr 2 caused 100% mortality when sprayed onto S. litura larvae, and more than 90% of larvae were died when forced to feed treated water spinach. Agr2 has better potential than Agr1 to control S. litura.