COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF ACETONE AND CHLOROFORM EXTRACTS OF EUPHORBIA HETEROPHYLLA AND ARGEMONE MEXICANA FOR CONTROL OF SPODOPTERA FRUGIPERDA

The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) causes significant damage to maize crops, posing a threat to food security. Seeking sustainable pest control solutions, this study assessed the larvicidal effects of acetone and chloroform extracts from two commonly found weed plants, Euphorbia heterophylla and Argemone mexicana. Using Soxhlet extraction, the crude extracts were tested against fourth instar larvae at concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 1.0 mg/mL. Results showed a clear dose-dependent increase in mortality, exhibiting maximum lethality of 64.4% for E. heterophylla chloroform extract and 73.3% for A. mexicana acetone extract at the highest concentration. Median lethal concentration (LD50) values ranged from 0.65 to 0.90 mg/mL, confirming strong insecticidal potential. These findings highlight the influence of solvent choice on extracting bioactive compounds and reinforce the prospects of these plants as eco-friendly alternatives in integrated pest management. Further research is recommended to isolate active components and validate field efficacy for sustainable crop protection.