Efficacy and toxicity of different plant extracts over the period of time in Bracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Bracon hebetor (Say) is an important parasitoid and played a suitable model role for bio control programs. Pest management through biocontrol approaches such as plant extracts is an ecologically responsive and enthusiastic means of reducing insect pests. The main objective of the present research was to discover the efficiency and susceptibility periods of plant extracts for the assessment of parasitoids. The toxicity of five plants (Cymbopogon nardus, Azadirachta indica, Syzygium aromaticum, Datura stramonium and Parthenium hysterophorus) extracts were evaluated against B. hebetor to detect the possible way forward to controlling insect pests along with the adverse effects on beneficial insects. The data was recorded regarding mortality of B. hebetor, after calculated time periods with different intervals of up to 2 days. Datasets were followed by a statistical probe which exhibited significant results. The extracts of C. nardus, A. indica, S. aromaticum and D. stramonium exhibited non-toxic effects, whereas P. hysterophorus indicated low toxicity annotations against investigated parasitoid. These investigations suggested that four plants examined are not hazardous to the parasitoids whereas P. hysterophorus somehow has detrimental effects at low toxicity levels. Further development of insecticide resistance mechanisms in the parasitoid favors the enhancement of parasitoid efficacy with plant extracts. The possible selective use of these plant extracts and their effects on the safety period of parasitoids for integration with other approaches in sustainable pest management programs is discussed.