Evaluation of the Efficiency of the Bacteria Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and the Aqueous Extract of Nettle Leaves and Cumin Seeds in Controlling the Larval Stages of the Date Moth, Cadra cautella

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and aqueous extracts of nettle, Urtica spp. leaves and cumin, Cuminum cyminum seeds in controlling the second and fourth larval instars of the date moth Cadra cautella. The results showed that the highest mortality rate of the second-instar larvae treated with the bacterial suspension of B. amyloliquefaciens reached 93.30% at 10% concentration, 7 days after treatment, whereas the lowest mortality rate was 40% at 2.5% concentration after the same period. For the fourth-instar larvae, the highest mortality was 80% at 10% concentration, and the lowest was 33.30% at 2.5% concentration, 7 days after treatment. The aqueous extract of nettle leaves showed a maximum effect on second-instar larvae, with a mortality rate of 73.30% at 1% concentration, 7 days after treatment, whereas the lowest was 26.70% at 0.25% concentration. For the fourth-instar larvae, the highest and lowest mortality rates were 60% and 13.30%, at concentrations of 1.00% and 0.25%, respectively. In the case of cumin seed extract, the highest mortality rate for the second-instar larvae was 80%, and the lowest was 26.70%. For the fourth-instar larvae, the highest mortality rate was 60%, and the lowest was 20%, one week after treatment. The results obtained indicated that the second larval instar was more sensitive than the fourth instar, and mortality rates increased with increasing concentrations.

Keywords:

Cadra cautella, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, plant extracts, biological control.