Avaliação do potencial termiticida do extrato da madeira de Itaúba (Mezilaurus itauba (Messin.) Taube x Mez.)

Abstract

Termites are xylophagous organisms that cause great economic losses. Insecticides used to combat them can impact the environment as well as human beings. So, several studies have been carried out to evaluate plant extracts for use in the treatment of wood against termites. This project evaluated the anti-termite action of the extract obtained from the wood of “itauba” (Mezilaurus itauba (Meissn.) Taube x Mez.) against Nasutitermes termites. Non-choice and choice tests evaluated the mortality, feeding rate and repellency of these extracts obtained through organic solvents (ethanolic and hydroalcoholic) in the following treatments: T1=1.5%, T2=2.5% and T3=5%. Results showed that for all tested concentrations there was repellency of the extracts. The percentage of mortality was higher for the maximum concentration of the ethanol extract. The highest rate of palatability was observed in the ethanol extract at T3, while for the hydroalcoholic extract it was at T2. It is concluded that the extracts from the wood of "itauba" have potential for use in the fight against the arboreal termites Nasutitermes.