Influecne of solasodine a pure compound of solanum aviculare on feeding activity against papilio demoleus l (lepidoptera: papilionidae) larvae

The use of plant products as pesticides against crop pests is gaining importance in recent years due to environmental and health hazards posed by synthetic organic pesticides. Plant materials comprises rich source of phytochemicals which are highly toxic to many insect species without phytotoxic properties. The lemon butterfly Papilio demoleus is an important pest whose larval forms causes serious damage to citrus family, in the field the caterpillars feed on leaves and prefer blossoms and young ones. In the present study to assess the influence Solasodine, which was isolated from the Solanum aviculare was used the feeding intensity of Papilio demoleus larvae to evaluate its antifeeding activity. A large leaf disc 36.5 sq.cm of lemon was used. Solasodine was sprayed with different concentrations such as 50, 100, 150, 200ppm uniformly on either side by using an atomizer and placed in a Petri dish. Single Papilio demoleus fourth instar larva was introduced into each Petri dish for observation at 24hrs, 48hrs and mean average of the ten sets were taken for the activity. The consumed area was measured graphically and also with Planimeter and the percentage leaf area protection was also calculated. Parallel control Petri dishes were maintained for each experiment. Solasodine showed a potent antifeedant activity against fourth instar larva of Papilio demoleus.