مشخصات پژوهش

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a widely distributed medicinal plant throughout the world [1]. In this study we used ethyl acetate extract of foliage and flowers of this plant. Extraction carried out by maceration method. For solvent recovery rotary evaporator with 70ᵒC and 120 RPM were used. Different studies showed that insect’s growth and assimilation, changes with any disruption in digestive system of them [2]. In this study physiological indexes of nutrition, in the control and treated insects were compared. 5th larval instar of S. exigua feed with 0.025 gr/ml of extract corporated in artificial diet. After 2 days weight gained by larva, ingested diet, excreta weight were recorded. Using these data some physiological indexes such as ECD, ECI, AD, CI, GR, CR and AF were calculated and compared with control treatment. Gross growth efficiency (ECD) decreased from 8.22% in control to 4.51 in extract treatments. Also net growth efficiency (ECI) decreased from 9.33% in control to 4.97 in treatment. The amount of approximate digestibility (AD) had non-significant differences in comparing with control. Consumption rate (CI) and growth rate decreased in comparing with control (0.54 and 0.025 in treatments vs. 0.6 and .053 in controls). Antifeedant index was positive (7.60) that indicate the decrease in efficiency of digestive system of insects ingested extract in their diet. The results indicates that ethyl acetate extract of A. millefolium affected important nutritional dependent physiological indexes and decreased the growth rate of S. exigua larva.