~ 45 ~  Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2015; 3(4): 45-49 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2015; 3(4): 45-49 © 2015 JEZS Received: 21-06-2015 Accepted: 24-07-2015 Hayat Badshah Department of Plant Protection, the University of Agriculture Peshawar-Pakistan Farman Ullah Department of Plant Protection, the University of Agriculture Peshawar-Pakistan Abid Farid Department of Agriculture, University of Haripur, Haripur- Pakistan Paul Andre Calatayud IRD c/o ICIPE - African Insect Science for Food and Health NSBB (Noctuid Stem Borer Biodiversity) team P.O. Box 30772-00100 Nairobi Kenya Neil Crickmore Department of Biochemistry School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton UK Correspondence: Hayat Badshah Entomology Section, Agricultural Research Institute Tarnab Peshawar-Pakistan Toxicity of Neem seed Azadirachta indica Juss (Meliaceae) different solvents extracts against cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Sternorrhyncha: Pseudococcidae) under Laboratory conditions Hayat Badshah, Farman Ullah, Abid Farid, Paul Andre Calatayud, Neil Crickmore Abstract This study investigated the toxicity of neem treatments in comparison with Confidor 20% SL against cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley. The experiments were laid out under completely randomized design (CRD) with six main treatments including untreated check under laboratory conditions at Agricultural research Institute Tarnab, Peshawar-Pakistan during 2012/2013. Results indicated that Confidor 20% SL and neem seed extracts (acetone and n-hexane extracts) caused 100 % mortality of P. solenopsis after 48 hrs and one week duration respectively. Over all after a week exposure, mortality trend was recorded as 100%, 97%, 88% and 67% by Neem seed n-Hexane extracts, Neem seed Acetone extracts, Neem oil and Neem seed water extracts respectively for 3% concentration. Similarly for 2% concentration it was recorded as 87%, 84%, 74% and 46% and for 1% concentration the mortality trend was noted as 68%, 62%, 56% and 29% in n-Hexane, Acetone, Neem oil and Neem seed water extracts respectively. The neem extracts and oil bioassay revealed that % mortality of P. solenopsis was dose and time dependent. These findings provide clear indication that n-Hexane and Acetone are good solvents for neem seed extracts preparation to be used against cotton mealybug in Pakistan. However further study needs to be conducted to know the compatibility of these extracts against the natural enemies in field as well as in laboratory conditions. Keywords: Cotton mealybug, Neem seed extracts, organic solvents, toxicity Introduction Cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Sternorrhyncha: Pseudococcidae) is a polyphagous insect feeding on a large variety of plant species including fruits, vegetables, crops and a few ornamentals belonging to Malvaceae, Solanaceae and Leguminaceae families [1] . In Pakistan, it was detected for the first time in 2005 on cotton and other cultivated plants in Punjab and Sindh provinces [2] . In addition to the direct losses by sucking the phloem sap, its feeding secretions (honeydew) cause additional losses to the plants by disturbing the photosynthesis activity and inducing fungal contaminations [3, 4] . Farmers mostly rely on insecticides for the control of insect pests including mealybug [5] . However, the frequent use of these fast-acting chemicals against the insects has generated a number of biological and environmental hazards including phytotoxicity, toxicity to non-target organisms, environmental degradation, health hazards to farmers and they also may accelerate development of the pest biotypes resistant to specific pesticidal chemicals [6, 7] . There is therefore a need to search for new materials and innovative approaches for effective and biodegradable pesticides for insect pest control. This awareness has created worldwide interest in the development of alternative strategies, including the re-examination of using plant derivatives against agriculturally important insect- pests. Plant-derived materials are more readily biodegradable [8] . More than 2,400 plant species have been tested for pest-control properties [9, 10] Neem tree, Azadirachta indica Juss (Meliaceae) is commonly known as neem or Dharak found in Indo-Pak subcontinent. In Pakistan, neem tree is mostly found in southern areas i.e. Sindh and Punjab regions. The tree contains bioactive ingredients and more than 100 chemical compounds have been identified so far, but the most effective bio active compounds are