DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2018.v05i03.006

Pages: 162-165

Since the use of chemical pesticides is known to have an impact on the environment and health, the search for plant-based insecticides is a necessity. This study is aimed to find out whether the leaf eaxtract of Gliricidia sepium is also potent to be used in contolling papaya mealybugs, Paracoccus marginatus. Bioassay was done by feeding mealybugs with young fruits of papaya that previously soaked in aqueous and methanolic extracts of gamal for 10 minutes. Five levels of extract concentration are applied namely 0% (control), 0.05%, 0.10%, 0.15%, and 0.2%. Mortality of the insects were examined and assessed at the12th, 24th, 48th and 72th hour. The results showed both types of gamal leaves extract, the aqueous and methanolic, are lethal to the papaya mealybug P. marginatus with LD50 values of 0.063% and 0.09% respectively. But when both are compared, it appears that the methanol extract is slightly more toxic than the water extract. In conclusion, leaves extract of gamal is potent to use as a bioinsecticide in controling papaya mealybugs.