Desenvolvimento de biopesticida com extrato aquoso de Artemisia annua para manejo e controle sanitário avícola do cascudinho, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleptera: Tenebrionidae)

Abstract

Based on the importance of controlling Alphitobius diaperinus in poultry farms, the objective of this study was to evaluate the biopesticide activity of Artemisia annua aqueous extract against this coleopter. Samples from dry leaves of A. annua were analyzed for its artemisinin (ART) levels. The lesser mealworms were separated according to their activity and were randomly placed in 12 Petri dishes covered by a filter paper with 100 insects each to compound four treatments in triplicate: Negative control (distilled water); treated with 19.2, 38.4 and 76.8 mg of ART/mL of extract, respectively. 10 mL of the extract was evenly poured over the filter paper. Mortality was measured after 1, 3, 12 and 24 h after exposure. The aqueous extract of A. annua used in different concentration showed a concentration-dependent insecticide effect against adults of A. diaperinus, resulting in 33.6, 40.0 and 57.3 % of mortality when compared to control group after 24 hour post exposition for 19.2, 38.4 and 76.8 mg of ART/mL of extract, respectively, resulting in a lethal concentration (LC 50-24h) of 59.2 mg of ART/mL of extract. Therefore, in this controlled experimental design, the aqueous extract of A. annua demonstrated significant efficacy in the control of A. diaperinus, and our results showed the potential of artemisinin for environmental control of mealworm in poultry farms.