Insecticidal Property of Acacia Seeds and Bark Against Mosquitoes

Introduction

Acacia is a genus of shrubs and trees belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first described in Africa by the Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus in 1773. Acacias are also known as thorntrees or wattles, including the yellow-fever acacia and umbrella acacias. There are roughly 1300 species of Acacia worldwide, about 960 of them native to Australia, with the remainder spread around the tropical to warm-temperate regions of both hemispheres, including Africa, southern Asia, and the Americas.The leaves of acacias are compound pinnate in general. In some species, however, more especially in the Australian and Pacific islands species, the leaflets are suppressed, and the leaf-stalks (petioles) become vertically flattened, and serve the purpose of leaves. These are known as phyllodes. The vertical orientation of the phyllodes protects them from intense sunlight, as with their edges towards the sky and earth they do not intercept light so fully as horizontally placed leaves. A few species (such as Acacia glaucoptera) lack leaves or phyllodes altogether, but possess instead cladodes, modified leaf-like photosynthetic stems functioning as leaves.As mentioned previously, Acacias contain a number of organic compounds that defend them from pests and grazing animals.[2] Many of these compounds are psychoactive in humans. The alkaloids found in Acacias include dimethyltryptamine (DMT), 5-methoxy-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) and N-methyltryptamine (NMT). The plant leaves, stems and/or roots are sometimes made into a brew together with some MAOI-containing plant and consumed orally for healing, ceremonial or religious uses. Egyptian mythology has associated the acacia tree with characteristics of the tree of life (cf. article on the Legend of Osiris and Isis).

An insecticide is a pesticide used against insects in all developmental forms. They include ovicides and larvicides used against the eggs and larvae of insects respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and the household. The use of insecticides is believed to be one of the major factors behind the increase in agricultural productivity in the 20th century. Nearly all insecticides have the potential to significantly alter ecosystems; many are toxic to humans; and others are concentrated in the food chain. It is necessary to balance agricultural needs with environmental and health issues when using insecticides.

The Acacia Tree contains alkaloids, which is known to be mosquito repellant. By using the seeds and bark of these acacia trees, we can use it as an insecticide.

Statement of the Problem

• 
  
  Is using acacia seeds and bark effective in using it as an insecticide?


• 
  
  Is using acacia seeds and bark not effective in using it as an insecticide?

Hypothesis

NULL

• 
  
  Acacia seeds and bark is effective as an insecticide against mosquitoes.

ALETERNATIVE

• 
  
  Acacia seeds and bark is not effective as an insecticide against mosquitoes.

Methodology

Materials: acacia seeds, acacia bark, transparent container (where mosquitoes will be placed), small bowl (must be small enough to fit inside the container), cloth

Procedures:

1. 
   
   Get the juice of the acacia seeds and bark.


2. 
   
   Place it on the small bowl and place it on the container.


3. 
   
   Place the mosquitoes inside the container and cover it with a cloth so that air could pass in it.


4. 
   
   Observe the effects of the juice of the acacia seeds and bark to the mosquitoes.