💡As agriculture’s role in sustaining human life has become burdened with demand, the use of harmful chemicals has also risen to allow abundant, pest-free crops. Synthetic insecticides offer quick, effective mitigation strategies, but their increased use has led to harmful consequences for both plants as humans as well as contribute to an increase in resistance by pests. Plant extracts offer organic, safe alternatives to mitigating insects on crops.

📌 Research Highlights:
▶ Bio-insecticides as an alternative to synthetic insecticides must be a) affordable and b) simple to prepare.
▶ Aqueous leaf extracts of Tephrosia vogelii, Tithonia diversifolia, Vernonia amygdalina Delile and Lippia javanica (Burm.f.) Spreng. proved effective against aphids, flower beetles, and bean foliage beetles.
▶ Ethanolic extracts have also been tested to combat the diamondback moth, and the four different extracts used in this study proved to be effective.

🎯 Due to their availability and roots in general agriculture knowledge, Azadirachta indica and Nicotiana tabacum are two plants regularly targeted for research in bio-insecticides. Azadirachta indica was shown effective in seven different studies and its aqueous seed extract has the potential to reduce the lifespan of a greenfly from 17.4 days to 2.5 days.

📷 Image: Azadirachta indica is one of the most researched plants and has the potential to be a viable option in approaching pest management.

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