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Neem
Introduction - Neem as
pesticide
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Using neem derivatives for managing pests is a non-violent approach to controlling pests. Neem products work by intervening at several stages of the insect's life. They may not kill the pest instantaneously but incapacitate it in several ways. Neem very subtly employs effects such as repellence, feeding and ovipositional deterrence (influence on the egg laying process), growth inhibition, mating disruption, chemo-sterilisation, etc. These are now considered far more desirable than a quick knockdown in integrated pest management programs as they reduce the risk of exposing pests' natural enemies to poisoned food or starvation. The mentioned effects act as follows: |
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Anti-feedant
Neem has anti-taste properties, which results in the reduction of the eating activity of insects. |
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Repellent
The smell of neem repels insects. |
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Growth regulatory effect
Neem disturbs the metabolism of insects during various phases of its development. Egg development and hatching is affected and the moulting of larvae is disturbed, which prevents the formation of pupae.
One of the characteristics of neem is its systematic action. Seedlings absorb neem through their roots and transport the active components into the leaves, thus
making the whole plant resistant to insects.
Neem has a broad spectrum of action, which means that they are effective to a wide range of pests. Scientific research has shown that neem extracts can influence nearly 400 species of insects, belonging to Blattodea, Caelifera, Coleoptera, Dermaptera, Diptera, Ensifera, Hetroptera, Homoptera, Hymenoptera, Isoptera, Lepidoptera, Phasmida, Phthiraptera, Siphonoptera and Thysanoptera, on species of ostracod, several species of mites and nematodes, and even noxious snails and fungi, including aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus
flavus.
Some of
these
pests
are
resistant
to
pesticides,
or
are |
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Brochure |
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| inherently difficult to control with conventional pesticides, such as floral thrips, diamond back moth and several leaf miners. |
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| Examples of insects that can be combated with neem are: |
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Cowpeaweevil; |
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White fly; |
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Spotted cucumber beetle; |
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Green rice leafhopper; |
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Rice
hispa; |
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Brown
planthopper; |
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Mexican bean beetle; |
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Cotton bollworm
(Helicoverpa
armigera); |
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Colorado potato beetle
(Leptinotarsa
decemlineata); |
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Spyni bollworm; |
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Lesser grain borer; |
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Gypsy moth; |
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Rice weevil; |
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Tobacco hornworm; |
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Red flour beetle; |
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Pink bollworm; |
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Khapra
beetle; |
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Potato tuber moth; |
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Sorghum
shootfly; |
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Diamond-back moth
(Plutella
xylostella); |
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Vegetable
leafminer; |
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Tobacco caterpillar; |
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Rice galf midge; |
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Migratory locust; |
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Red cotton bug; |
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Desert locust. |
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These pests are present in a wide range of crops. Neem can be applied in plantation crops, fodder crops, rootcrops, floriculture, horticulture, cereals, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, gardens, orchards, nursery kitchen gardens, golf courses, potted plants, forestry species, etcetera.
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