Insecticidal Properties of Euphorbia tirucalli latex against Selected Household Pests (Blattella germanica, Periplaneta americana and Acheta domesticus) under Laboratory Settings

Abstract

Insects such as Blattella germanica and Periplaneta americana are disease spreading pests, while Acheta domesticus is a pest due to the male’s disruptive chirping. Plants, unlike synthetic insecticides, have insecticidal properties with minimal negative effects. Euphorbia tirucalli is a plant that has insecticidal properties against cockroaches and crickets. This study aimed to determine the phytochemical compounds within E. tirucalli and to investigate the insecticidal properties of E. tirucalli latex against B. germanica and P. americana. The total saponin and alkaloid content within the plant was 122±98.28 mg diosgenin g-1 and 271±51.16 mg atropine g-1, respectively. Euphorbia tirucalli twig extracts at concentrations of 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09 and 0.1% (w/v) achieved mortalities of 30, 40, 40, 40, 50, 60, 60, 70, 80 and 100% for A. domesticus, respectively. Euphorbia tirucalli latex concentrations of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% (v/v) achieved mortalities of 20, 60, 70, 90 and 100%, respectively for P. americana. The same concentrations resulted in mortalities of 20, 50, 60, 80 and 100%, respectively for B. germanica. The LC50 of latex against B. germanica and P. americana were determined at 39.03 and 35.35, respectively. The LC50 extract against A. domesticus was 0.03. The 95% confidence interval was found to be 51.14-26.92, 45.63-25.07 and 0.018-0.042 for B. germanica, P. americana and A. domesticus, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that E. tirucalli has various phytochemical compounds and insecticidal properties against B. germanica, P. americana and A. domesticus.