Novel Pesticidal Efficacy of Araucaria heterophylla and Commiphora molmol Extracts against Camel and Cattle Blood-Sucking Ectoparasites

Abstract

Botanical insecticides are promising pest control agents. This research investigated the novel pesticidal efficacy of <i>Araucaria heterophylla</i> and <i>Commiphora molmol</i> extracts against four ectoparasites through treated envelopes. Seven days post-treatment (PT) with 25 mg/mL of <i>C. molmol</i> and <i>A. heterophylla</i>, complete mortality of the camel tick, <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> and cattle tick, <i>Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus</i> were reached. Against <i>H. dromedarii</i>, the median lethal concentrations (LC_50s) of the methanol extracts were 1.13 and 1.04 mg/mL and those of the hexane extracts were 1.47 and 1.38 mg/mL, respectively. The LC₅₀ values of methanol and hexane extracts against <i>R. annulatus</i> were 1.09 and 1.41 plus 1.55 and 1.08 mg/mL, respectively. Seven days PT with 12.5 mg/mL, extracts completely controlled <i>Haematopinus eurysternus</i> and <i>Hippobosca maculata</i>; LC₅₀ of <i>Ha. eurysternus</i> were 0.56 and 0.62 mg/mL for methanol extracts and 0.55 and 1.00 mg/mL for hexane extracts, respectively, whereas those of <i>Hi. maculata</i> were 0.67 and 0.78 mg/mL for methanol extract and 0.68 and 0.32 mg/mL, respectively, for hexane extracts. <i>C. molmol</i> extracts contained sesquiterpene, fatty acid esters and phenols, whereas those of <i>A. heterophylla</i> possessed monoterpene, sesquiterpene, terpene alcohols, fatty acid, and phenols. Consequently, methanol extracts of <i>C. molmol</i> and <i>A. heterophylla</i> were recommended as ecofriendly pesticides.