Efficacy of Aqueous Aegle marmelos Leaf Extract for the Control of Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae)

Megacopta cribraria (F.), an emerging pest of concern, has been studied extensively to understand bionomics and explore control strategies. The use of plant-derived extracts has proven to be one of the best and most eco-friendly approaches for pest control. This study focuses on the ovicidal and deterrence potential of the Aegle marmelos crude aqueous leaf extract on M. cribraria. Egg hatching decreased significantly with increasing concentrations, dropping to 70% at the highest test concentration of 10%. A significant deterrent effect was seen in terms of time spent by the bugs on the treated surface and their visitation frequency. At the highest concentration, bugs spent only 3.24% of the total time (10 min) on the treated surface compared to the control. The frequency of visitation to the treated surface (~13% visit) also declined significantly at 10% concentration compared to the untreated surface (87% visit). This deterrence activity was further evident from the bugs' frequent grooming behaviour, trying to remove the extract from their body parts. A. marmelos leaf extract, therefore, was a potential candidate in deterring behavioural responses of M. cribraria bugs, and requires large-scale exploration for its insecticidal potential..