Journal of Basic and Applied Research International

The mulberry pest, Glyphodes pyloalis Walker is considered as the major pest of mulberry as it causes significant damage to mulberry crop and results in economic losses. In recent years botanicals have emerged as an effective approach for managing agricultural pests, including G. pyloalis. This study evaluated the efficacy of three botanicals namely Artemisia absinthium, Datura stramonium, and Juglans regia, against mulberry pest Glyphodes pyloalis Walker. The research was conducted at College of Temperate Sericulture, SKUAST-K Mirgund which assessed botanical effects at different concentrations (2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, and 12.5%) on the mortality percentage, repellency, leaf palatability and adult emergence percentage of the pest. The extracts of these botanicals were prepared in the solvent acetone with 10% W/V stock solution. The total number of treatments was 16 including the control as T16 (acetone). Results showed that A. absinthium exhibited the highest toxicity, causing 60% larval mortality at 72 hours after treatment, followed by D. stramonium (53.33%) and J. regia (50%). Mean repellency was recorded higher in D. stramonium (45.99%) followed by A. absinthium (25.33%) and J. regia (18%). All botanicals significantly reduced leaf palatability and adult emergence in a dose-dependent manner. At 2.5% concentration adult emergence was recorded low in A. absinthium however, D. stramonium and J. regia did not differ significantly. The probit analysis revealed the LC₅₀ of 1.04ml per 10ml for Artemisia absinthium, making it the potentially toxic botanical among the three tested extracts used. This study indicates the potential of these botanical extracts as an eco-friendly alternative for managing G. pyloalis Walker particularly under laboratory conditions.