Determination of Toxic Impact of Dieffenbachia picta Leaves Extract on the Ratio of Death in the Termites' Workers Microcerotermes diversus (Silvestri)

The present study targeted using Dieffenbachia picta as a planticide to fight the termite instead of the chemical pesticides due to its activity in killing the insect workers because of its highly toxic compounds (N = 80) including hexane, phenols, benzene and insect-deadly carboxylic acids. Effects of the extract obtained from the Dieffinbachia picta leaves were examined on the termite workers of Microcerotermes diversus using four treatments (T) including 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% by spraying. The results showed mortality rate in the termite workers at different periods of time. T100% recorded the highest mortality rates (8%, 8.67% and 9%) after 24, 48 and 72 hours respectively, while the minimum mortality in the insect workers was recorded at T 25% as 1.7%, 2.3% and 3.7% after 24, 48 and 72 hours respectively. According to results of the present study, there is a possible advantage of the toxic properties of D. picta leaves as an alternative and effective plant pesticides for combating the termite of M. diversus. The toxic properties of D. picta has some significant differences in the M. diversus mortality rate, which then multiplied by increasing the extract concentration and the duration of exposure, hence the relation was direct. D. picta can be regarded as one of the active elements of biocontrol in the fighting the termites when treating in spraying methods.