Anti-termitic Properties of Lantana Camara (Lamiales: Verbenaceae)

Abstract:
Fresh and dry tissues (leaves, stems, flowers and roots) of two Lantana camara cultivars and the soil from where the plants were growing were tested to determine their anti-termitic activities against Reticulitermes flavipes in 3-wk laboratory bioassays. Barriers incorporating 25% (w/w) chipped tissues, fresh and dry, in soil significantly reduced termite tunneling activity. The repellent effect was greater in fresh tissues than the corresponding oven-dry tissues and in cultivar Mozellethan cultivar New Gold. Leaves displayed greater repellence than flowers and stems, and roots were the weakest.No-choice bioassay of oven-dry aerial parts showed significant reduction in termite survival, vigor, body weight, body water content, and consumption.The soil in which Lantana had been growing exhibited no anti-termitic activity.