A note on some epiphytic plants for their repellent activities against Tribolium castaneum adults

Abstract

Repellents, fumigants, feeding deterrents, growth inhibitors and insecticides of natural origin are rational alternatives to synthetic insecticides. Some plants draw a special attention for their low lethal and other environment-friendly activities (Talukder & Howse, 1995). Epiphytes or air plants that do not normally root in the soil but grow upon another living plant, draw attention as a source of bioactive potentials. Use of these plants in the traditional system of folk medicine is well known (Mallavadhani et al., 2003). Epiphytes of Bangladesh remain untouched from investigation for their bioactive potentials. In this proposition six epiphytic plants viz. Dendrophthoe falcate (L.f.) Ettingsh. Cuscuta reflexa Roxb., Drynaria roxburghii (Bory) J. Sm., Ficus lacor Buch.-Ham., Vanda roxburghii R. Br. and Loranthus longiflorus Desr., were taken into consideration for evaluating their repellent activities.