EVALUATION OF TOXICITY OF BOTANICALS AND ESSENTIAL OILS AGAINST SOLENOPSIS GEMINATA (FABRICIUS) (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE)T. Nalini and S. SasinathanAbstract Solenopsis geminata is an invasive ant species which affect plant health by tending sucking insects and prevent pollination. Laboratory experiments were carried out to test the toxicity of botanicals viz., clove, cinnamon, coriander powder and essential oils viz., pepper mint, clove, eucalyptus in the Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University. In toxicity tests on S. geminata with botanicals 100 percent mortality was caused in clove powder at the dose of 81mg after 120 minutes; Cinnamon powder at 108 mg dose after 240 minutes; Coriander powder at the dose of 108 mg after 240 minutes. In toxicity tests on S. geminata with essential oils 100 per cent mortality was obtained in clove oil at 2 and 2.5 per cent concentrations after 30 minutes; Peppermint oil at 1.5, 2 and 2.5 per cent concentrations after 60 minutes; Eucalyptus oil at 2 and 2.5 per cent concentrations after 120 minutes. |