Efficacy of Neem Oil against Termite [Odontotermes obesus (Rambur)] (Blattodea: Termitidae)

Abstract

Botanical pesticides are of great importance in Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Extracts of different plant parts are used for deterring and killing the various life stages of insects. Most of the oils produced by plants contain bioactive compounds with insecticidal properties.  Neem oil containing azadirachtin is an established insecticide and insect repellent. Use of synthetic pesticides for wood preservation leads to environmental pollution and health hazards to human beings and other living organisms. To avoid these problems neem, Azadiracta indica (A.Juss.) plant oil was used in this study and gave better results. The weight loss of card boards treated with neem was less like chlorpyrifos treated cardboards. Gravimetric measurements of cardboards shown 18.34gm and 16.85 gm weight which after 30 and 60 days of exposure to A. indica oil indicated that plant oil has potential effects like conventional pesticides like chlorpyrifos which showed the18.72 and 18.63 gm of weight in cardboards after 30 and 60 days of exposure. The P values was 0.036457 and 0.016527 for cardboards exposed to two treatments after 30 and 60 days respectively which is highly significant.