Rosemary Anietie Essien, Diligent Efiong Oboho*, Cyril Ali Imakwu, Iniobong Atteh and Jude Okwor.

• access_time28 December, 2023

  subjectCategory: Biological Sciences

• The study was conducted in the laboratory to determine the termiticidal efficacy of Cymbopogon citratus leaf extract on Termites (Macrotermes bellicosus). The experiment consisted of five treatments with three replicates. The concentrations 2g, 4g, 6g, standard control {Rambo insect powder (0.60% Permethrin) and experimental control. Termites were collected from the Termitarium found within the Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa campus. Fifty Macrotermes bellicosus were introduced into Petri dishes each containing the different levels of C. citratus extract, observations were made for 30minutes, 1hour, 1hour 30 minutes, 2hours,and 3hours respectively, to test for mortality, repellency and survival duration of Macrotermes bellicosus. The results of the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, steroids, saponins, glycosides, and citrals. Mortality test on Macrotermes bellicosus exposed to the different levels of treatments showed that mortality was extract concentration dependent. Maximum mortality was observed at standard control (insect powder),followed by the different concentrations of C. citratus extract during 3 hours exposure of termites to the extract as compared to experimental control where no mortality was recorded. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the number of termites that died at the different extract concentrations. The extract of C. citratus against Macrotermes bellicosus caused repellency in all the concentrations from 2g (65%), 4g (70%), 6g (85%) and standard control (100%). There was significant difference (p<0.05) in the movement of Macrotermes bellicosus from the extract baited filter paper at different concentration. Survival duration showed that all tested extract concentrations significantly (p< 0.05) reduced the survival duration of Macrotermes bellicosus. The study therefore, revealed the antitermitic activities of C. citratus which could be used as an alternative to synthetic insecticide for the control of Termites.
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