Insecticidal Potential of Indigenous Flora of Soon Valley against Asian Citrus Psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama and Cotton Aphid Aphis gossypii Glover

Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Psyllidae: Hemiptera) and Aphis gossypii Glover (Aphididae; Hemiptera) are destructive sap-feeding pests of citrus and cotton, respectively. This study assessed the toxicity potential of indigenous flora of Soon valley and surrounding salt range (Punjab, Pakistan) against D. citri and A. gossypii. Among acetone extracts of 40 plant species, the extracts of Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds., Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall., Nerium indicum Mill., Datura alba L. and Salvia officinalis L. showed highest psyllid mortality (i.e. 93, 91, 89, 88 and 81%, respectively). Bioassay with most effective extracts further revealed that the most toxic extracts were S. officinalis, N. indicum and M. longifolia with LC₅₀ values of 18.59, 20.27 and 20.73%, respectively. Similar trend of toxicity was observed in case of their LT₅₀ values. These results suggest the putative effectiveness and further biochemical characterization of these plant extracts for the management of D. citri and A. gossypii and other sap-feeding insect pests.