Proceedings Book of ICETSR, 2014, Malaysia Handbook on the Emerging Trends in Scientific Research ISBN: 978-969-9347-16-0 297 Antidesma Bunius (Bignay) Fruit Extract as an Organic Pesticide against Epilachna spp Rosario M. Belmi Corresponding author: Department of Biology, Philippine Normal University, Taft Avenue Manila, Philippines Joey Giron Basic Education Department, Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City, Quezon Province, Philippines Myra L. Tansengco Environment and Biotechnology Division, Industrial Technology Development Institute, Department of Science & Technology, Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines Abstract Ladybird (Family Coccinellidae) has been regarded as a serious pest causing heavy damage to various agricultural crops. The use of effective and natural pesticide will greatly contribute in the control and management of these pests. This study examined the potential of Antidesma bunius (Bignay) fruit extract as an organic pesticide against the Epilachna spp., another species of the family Coccinellidae. A laboratory-scale experiment was done to compare the mortality time lapse (MTL) of the lady bird beetles exposed to three concentrations of crude A. bunius fruit extracts (50%, 75% and 100%). A commercial pesticide was used as positive control and water as negative control. Each treatment was sprayed on the testing plates and on the cling wrap cover, and mortality was monitored every 15 minutes for 5 hours. Three trials were conducted with three replicates each. One-way ANOVA showed that there is a significant difference in the exhibited MTLs between and within treatments (  0.05 and 0.01). The recorded MTL of beetles exposed to 100% A. bunius extract was relatively close to those exposed to the commercial pesticide compared to those treated with 50% and 75% A. bunius fruit extracts. The commercial pesticide registered an average MTL of 10 min while majority of those treated with pure fruit extract registered a 15 min MTL. Phytochemical analysis of the fruit extract showed the presence of flavonoids and phenols that might contribute to its pesticidal property. Results of this study indicate that A. bunius fruit extract can serve as a novel alternative source of organic pesticide and that the pure crude fruit extract was proven effective against the Epilachna spp. Keywords: Antidesma bunius, Epilachna spp., Lady bird, Bignay, Pesticide. 1. Introduction Recent studies show that the pest of the Family Coccinellidae, collectively known as lady bird or lady beetle, still continues to be a major source of problem among crop growers. In a study presented in the 8 th International Cool Climate Symposium in Canada, it was mentioned that in 2001 in Ontario, the insect caused the dumping of 1 million liters of wine because it has tainted the wine with flavors of “peanuts, asparagus, bell pepper and earth, giving it a herbaceous and bitter taste” (Easton, 2012). The author even mentioned that these beetles “are an increasing threat to the global wine industry” and the issues are known to be affecting European vineyards as well.