Toxicity and antifeedant activity of crude seed extracts of Annona squamosa (Annonaceae) against lepidopteran pests and natural enemies

Abstract
Toxicity and antifeedant activity of crude seed extracts of Annona squamosa (Magnoliales: Annonaceae) from Maluku, Indonesia, against the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) were determined using different bioassays. Aqueous seed extracts and an aqueous emulsion of ethanolic seed extracts were toxic to both species. Crude aqueous extract also deterred feeding of fourth-instar P. xylostella in a leaf disc choice bioassay. Toxicities of crude aqueous extracts to natural enemies, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) were investigated using direct spray and residual contact tests. Chrysoperla carnea larvae were less susceptible to the extracts than were O. insidiosus adults.