La lutte contre les scorpions par des biopesticides d’origine végétale

Abstract

Like other countries in North Africa, the Middle East, and South America, Algeria is severely affected by scorpion envenomations, especially in desert regions. To combat this danger, residents use chemical pesticides that harm the environment. This study aims to develop biopesticides from plant extracts for biological control of scorpions. It focuses on the effectiveness of Peganum harmala and Euphorbia guyoniana extracts against Androctonus australis. The compounds were extracted using cold maceration, and a chemical test was conducted to identify the main components of each plant. Scorpions were exposed to different concentrations of the extracts (10, 15, 20, 25, 30 mg/ml) through spraying, and their behavior was observed over 72 hours. The results showed that Euphorbia guyoniana contained a significant chemical diversity, while Peganum harmala caused the first deaths after 24 hours, with a maximum mortality rate of 60% at a concentration of 30 mg/ml. Scorpion mortality rates varied based on the concentrations of the extracts and the exposure time, without reaching 100%. Toxicity tests revealed that Peganum harmala was more effective after 72 hours, with lower lethal doses compared to Euphorbia guyoniana. The analyses also demonstrated that the extracts of these two plants are promising for biological control of scorpions, with inhibition rates ranging from 20% to 100% after 72 hours of exposure. The study revealed that plant extracts from Peganum harmala and Euphorbia guyoniana are highly effective and essential for the biological control of scorpions.