Nanoemulsion of the Mixture of Citronella Grass Distillation Waste and Piper aduncum Essential Oil to Control Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Corn production in Indonesia is challenged by the attack of the new invasive pest fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda, Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). This pest is known to be resistant to many synthetic insecticides. Botanical insecticide with nanoemulsion formulation is an option to solve this problem because it was relatively eco-friendly, and the various active components delay insect resistance and insect resurgence. The objectives of this research are to determine the characteristics of the nanoemulsion of the mixture of spiked pepper (Piper aduncum) and citronella grass distillate waste (Cymbopogon nardus) and to test the insecticidal activity of nanoemulsion against Spodoptora frugiperda. The nanoemulsion formulation is made with the spontaneous emulsification method. The leaf dipping technique is applied at the nanoemulsion toxicity test on S. frugiperda larvae. Then, the nanoemulsion formulation is analyzed with PSA and Zetasizer Nano Malyern to measure the particle size and zeta potential. The result of the research shows that the nanoemulsion of the mixture of citronella grass waste and P. aduncum fruit oil has insecticide activity with LC50 = 0.53%. Additionally, it causes mortality and developmental delay in S. frugiperda larvae. The nanoemulsion particle is 273.1 nm. It has homogeneity and an even distribution.