Eco-Friendly Management of Nausinoe Geometralis Through Botanical Extracts on Jasmine Plant

Jasmine leaf webworm, Nausinoe geometralis, is a significant pest of Jasminum spp. commonly known as Jasmine plant. This plant holds a special place in Pakistan's culture; as it is declared as its national flower. N. geometralis feeds on the leaves of the jasmine plant; leaving it damaged and unattractive. Current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of four botanical extracts (i.e. Neem, Taramira, Lemon grass, and Cactus) against N. geometralis; to explore an effective and eco-friendly method to protect the jasmine plant. Different concentrations of extracts were prepared using distilled water. Bioassays were performed on third instar larvae of N. geometralis following leaf dip method for various exposure intervals. Outcomes revealed that Neem extract was highly effective to manage the test insect pest followed by Taramira, Lemon grass, and Cactus. LC50 values of Neem after 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours were 22.25, 11.11, 11.31, and 15.82 ppm, respectively. It was concluded that botanical extracts can be utilized as promising agents in developing effective management strategies against N. geometralis. Future research should focus on optimizing the application methods and exploring the synergistic effects of these botanical extracts with other eco-friendly control measures to enhance their effectiveness against N. geometralis in field conditions.