Evaluation of extracts of Annona muricata L. over Aphis craccivora Koch, 1854 (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Abstract

In general, the control of pests in agriculture is made by pesticides that can cause deleterious effects to animals, the environment and man. In Cowpea, black aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch, 1854 (Hemiptera: Aphididae), causes direct damages and can also transmit viruses. Therefore, the present work had as objective to test the efficiency of the extracts of Annona muricata L. (Annonaceae) to control A.craccivorain Cowpea cv. Gurguéia. The effect of the hexanic extracts at 0.5 and 1.0% obtained from leaves and seeds of A. muricata on the mortality of aphids were accessed under laboratory conditions. The evaluations were carried out at 24, 48 and 72 hours after application of the extracts by counting the dead insects. The extracts of seeds of A. muricata at 0.5 % and 1.0 % caused mortality on 98.9 and 92.2 % of aphids, respectively, while extracts of leaves caused mortality on 11.1 % at concentration of 0.5% and 18.9% at concentration of 1.0%. In all three evaluations made, the average mortality of the aphids was significantly higher in the hexanic extracts obtained from the seeds than the leaves, but the average mortality did not differ within the type of extract.