EVALUATION OF CLEOME ARABICA L. (CAPPARIDACEAE) TOXICITY: EFFECTS ON MORTALITY AND SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER (DIPTERA: DROSOPHILIDAE)

Abstract

To control vinegar flies, insecticide trials were carried out using some extracts of Cleome arabica (Capparidaceae), a medicinal plant used for the treatment of inflammation, pyrexia and pain. In this study, we evaluate the direct and delayed effect of the ethanolic plant extract on the vinegar fly Dorsophila melanogaster, the excellent laboratory model. The treatment was applied on 2nd larvae stage (L2), by ingestion. Several concentrations were used to determined fly mortality and sublethal concentration (0.5 μg / ml) was used to studied sexual behaviour of adults. We record 50% morality rates after 15 days treatment and a disturbance of fly development. The results also show that C. arabica ethanolic extract has a negative effect on the Drosophila sexual behaviour.

Keywords

• cleome arabica
• drosophila melanogaster
• mortality
• sexual behavior