SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Dalandan (Citrus aurantium Linn.) Peelings and Calamansi (Citrofortunella microcarpa) extract as an Alternative Fire Ant Killer

Lea Galvez

Mariel Macaisa

JD Rivera

John Ng

10D

DLSU INTEGRATED SCHOOL

S.Y. 2013-2014

INTRODUCTION

            The reason why the researcher chose this study is to prevent the use of harmful chemicals from commercial insecticide that can cause an imbalance in the eco system. This study will provide low cost and all natural fire ant killer. They will test the effectiveness of this natural fire ant killer by using dalandan peelings and calamansi extract which both contains D-limonene.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Defined Research Question

            Can dalandan peelings and calamansi extract be an alternative fire ant killer?

Other Questions

            What is in dalandan peelings and calamansi extract acts as a fire ant killer?

            How can dalandan peelings and calamansi extract kill fire ants?

HYPOTHESIS

Null Hypothesis – the natural fire ant killer does not have any effect on the ants.

Alternative Hypothesis - Baygon kills more than the natural fire ant killer.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It will benefit the households by providing them with a low cost all natural fire ant killers. It will also minimize the use of harmful insecticides that may harm our health and environment. It changes the way dalandan peelings and calamansi extract are viewed from garbage to innovation. These materials are easily found turning it into a more productive output.

LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

            The extent of this study is it will provide an alternative fire ant killer with the use of dalandan peelings and calamansi extract. The experiment will be confined mainly on fire ants.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Dalandan (Citrus aurantium Linn)

Dalandan is a fruit that is described as a small, erect tree with smooth, greenish white shoots with spine scent thorns. The fruit is nearly spherical, 5 to 9 centimeters in diameter, the color of the skin of the dalandan is orange red and tight, partitioned inside with yellowish juice sacks. The taste is usually sweet but its occasionally sour. The dalandan are known to be found throughout the Philippines which is always nearly planted, warm in all countries and it's native of the old world. (Philippine Medicinal Plants, 2013)

The other uses for alternative insecticides- Dalandan peelings mixed with pepper can actually be known to be an alternative use for insecticides. The mixture is refer to the 2 extracted ingredients is refers as the d-limonene the extracted from the peelings of the dalandan and capsaicin the extracted from the pepper. The D-limonene is shown to have limited effectiveness as an insecticide producing 27% mortality in japanese beetles which is indicated in the paper. Capsaicin has not likely been shown effectiveness for insectical activity, but it is shown to be added to the mixture to function to disperse current infestations and as an insect repellent. (Gupta & Krischik, 2007)

                                                                                                        

Calamansi or calamondin (Citrofornella microcarpa)
Calamansi is well known in the Philippines. It is ususally used on juice that is commercially distributed. It is also used in adding flavor to the food. Other way that it is used as a cleaner. It is sometimes used as stain remover, bleach, body deodorant, and more. (City Agriculturist Office, 2012)

            
A research wherein calamansi extract along with onion extract is an effective insecticide, mainly to roaches. Onion’s sulfenic acid, along with calamansi’s D-Limonene, stimulates sensory neurons, and eliminates the respiratory system’s wax coating. (Joligon, 2012)

Fire ants (Solenopsis spp)

Households often get annoyed to pests especially ants. It can bring bacteria in our food. It can also harm our body by means of getting inside of our body. The researchers is trying to pinpoint to find an affordable alternative and an eco-friendly pesticide to eliminate pests mainly ants from our homes. (Deriquito, 2002)

•        Queens 15mm long.

•        Workers 3–6mm long.

•        Coppery–brown on the head and body, with a darker abdomen.

•        Solenopsis has a very distinctive two–segment antennal club, which is most visible in the front view of the female reproductive ant.

Habits

Fire ant workers eat and collect from dead animals, insects, food (mainly sweet) and other similar things. Their mating seasons are between until late summer. After the male ants finish reproducing with the queen, the males die. Their nests or “mounds” can get as high as 40 cm. Ants can get aggressive and inflict pain through stinging. The result is a reaction within the affected area, almost like an allergic reaction. (Rentokill, 2014)

METHODOLOGY

MATERIALS:

• 6 kg dalandan
• 3 kg calamansi
• 1 cup of water
• Blender
• 3 Empty spray bottle
• Baygon- used for control set up
• Pests mainly ants (30 each set up)

PROCEDURE

Making the natural fire ant killer

1. Put dalandan peelings into the blender and the squeezed extract from calamansi

2. Blend it for about 2 mins. to the highest level

3. Slightly add 1 tsp. of water depending on the desired concentration level one at a time until it becomes liquid

4. Store it in an empty spray bottle. There you have it a natural fire ant killer

Testing process

1. The researcher will have an experimental set up which is the made product with different concentrations and a control set up which is the baygon.

2. They will be having 30 fire ants in each set up  1 spray in each treatment. They will  record the time the natural fire ant killer can last.

3. After having so they will be observing the set ups by counting the dead ants after 15 minutes and another for 30 mins .

4. The researchers will be repeating the steps thrice . Applying it directly to fire ants and spraying it to specific spots

SOCIAL IMPACT ANALYSIS

            We want our research to be helpful to households. Our positive consequence is to make an eco-friendly affordable insecticide. Our negative consequence is it may cause an in balance in the eco system especially of ants if proven effective. It will terminate ants. We will ask our 10 respondents who used our natural fire ant killer the following questions.

-Interview Questions

            Does the pesticide spray from the dalandan peelings affect us too?

            How effective is the pesticide spray? Rate it 1-10 (10 as the highest)

            Is the pesticide spray from the dalandan peelings poisonous?

            Are the dalandan peelings really effective to pests?

            Is this beneficial for the household?

                                                         

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

People can profit from our research because instead of using commercially made products they can use the materials which our readily and easily found in our homes. They can become resourceful citizens. They don’t have to spend much money in this product. This product is practical that not only we will gain, but also them. Especially to the household, they will surely benefit from this research.

Items	Quantity	Unit price	Amount
Dalandan	6 kilo	Php 30	Php 180
Calamansi	3 kilo	Php 30	Php 90
Baygon	1 spray bottle (small)	Php 200	Php 200

Items	Amount
Items that you can sell which are products of research.
Natural pesticide	Php 30

COST=

REVENUE=                                      NET INCOME=

DATA ANALYSIS

This study aims to interpret data approximately based on what the product will benefit the households, specifically how effective the insecticide is. We will compile and examine our data, measuring the death rate and recording the time it will last. We will derive the data of the experiment, which will be done and replicated 3 times. There are a total of 4 samples, each having the same number of ants as the other. After the treatment has been applied, observation time after time will be done. Recording the data will be based on the death rate of the specimen inside. We will tally up everything, get the average deaths of all the samples, get the middle values of all, and the frequent number of deaths appearing in the data.

Number of dead ants for 15 mins

Treatments	1st trial	2nd trial	3rd trial
1. baygon only
2. 25 % concentrated with water
3. 50% concentrated with water
4. 100 % concentrated dalandan and calamansi extracts

Number of dead ants for 30 mins

Treatments	1st trial	2nd trial	3rd trial
1. baygon only
2. 25 % concentrated with water
3. 50% concentrated with water
4. 100 % concentrated dalandan and calamansi extracts

WORK PLAN OF STUDY

ACTIVITIES	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC	JAN	FEB	MAR
Making of dalandan and calamansi peelings extracta s insecticide	X
Applying the made product to ants		X
Observing the set ups			X	X
Collecting of data			X	X
Interviewing of respondents					X

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Joligon, L. (2012). The Feasibility of Calamansi and Onion Extract As an Effective Cockroach     Killer. Retrieved January 13, 2014, from http://lunajoligon19.blogspot.com/2012/03/feasibility-of-calamansi-and-onion.html           

Gupta, G. & Krischik, VA. (2007). Professional and Consumer Insecticides for Management of   Adult Japanese Beetle on Hybrid Tea Rose. Retrieved January 13, 2014
from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17598545ordinalpos=4&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
   

Rentokill (2014). Fire Ant. Retrieved March 12, 2014 from  http://www.rentokil.com.ph/pest-guides/insects-and-spiders/ants/fire-ant/     

Deriquito, V.(2002) Limonene in Dalandan Peels as Potential Ingredient in Ant Repellant Coating. Retrieved March 13, 2014 from http://scinet.dost.gov.ph/union/ShowSearchResult.php?s=2&f=&p=&x=&page=&sid=1&id=Limonene+in+dalandan+peels+as+potential+ingredient+in+ant+repellant+coating&Mtype=PROJECTS

City Agriculturist Office (2012). Calamansi. Retrieved March 13, 2014 from

http://www.davaocity.gov.ph/agri/downloads/CALAMANSI20120217135311.pdf

http://stuartxchange.com/Dalandan.html