QUASSIA – Quassia amera, Aeschrion excelsa, Picrasma excelsa

                Fam. Simarubaccae

General

Quassia amara is a small, 4-6 m tall, tropical tree which is distributed in Central America, Brazil and Surinam. A related shrub, Aeschrion excelsa, which grows in the west Indies, also contains insecticidal compounds. In India, farmers use Picrasma excesa, which is either closely related to or identical with A.excelsa (70).

It is above all the wood which contains the insecticidal properties, but the roots, leaves and bark all contain quassinto a small degree (13).

Effective Range

Contact- and stomach poison

Insecticidal, larvicidal, nematicidal,

Quassia also acts systematically.

Espace pour photo Quassia

Target Insects

Aphids                                   general                         (133)

Diamondback moth              Plutellaxylostella          (13)

Caterpillars                            general                         (155)

Colorado beetle                    Leptinotarsa decemlineata (70)

Leaf miners                           general                         (35)

Melonworm                            Diaphania hyalinata     

Mites                             general                         (155)

Black carpet beetle               Attagenus piceus

Silkworm                      Bombyx mori               (70)

                                      Hoplocampa spp.                 (70)  

                                      Phymatocera aterrima

Quassia proved not effects against :

Codling moth                         Cydia pomonella                   (70)

Mexican bean beetle            Eplacchna varivestis   (70)

Peach aphid                          Myzus persicae           (133)

Remarks

*Beneficial insects like ladybirds and honeybess are not killed by quasia spray preparations (161).

*Because the effecive substances are water-soluble quasia sprays are used against sap feeders. When taken up by the roots, quassia works systemically and is transported into the leaves where it acts as stomach poison (133).

Methods of Use

Spray preparations should be used immediately after making up. Since the insecticidal contents vary from place to place as well as methods of preparing the solution, it is advisable to experiment locally to discover optimum quantities as well as preparation procedures (70).

*Because quasia works systemically, plants can be kept insectfree by applying a quasia in water solution to the ground. This is taken up by the roots and distributed throughout the plant (133).

*Quasia soap solution I

30 gm quassia chips, ¼ litre water, 30 gm liquid soap.

The quassia chips are boiled in the water for 30 minutes, filtered and the liquid soap added to the filtrate. This is diluted with 3 parts of water before use (35).

*Quassia soap solution II

500 gm quassia chips, 500 gm soap, 20 litres water.

Simmer all the ingredients together for 2 hours, then filter and add a further 20 litres of water to the filtrate. As a spray this preparation is effective against sap-imbibing insects, particularly aphids and black ants (92).  

*Quassia soap solution III

Boil 500 gm quassia chips in 10 litres of water for some time and let it stand for 24 hours, then filter. A separate solution made from 2 kg soap and 5liters of water is prepared, added to the quassia decoction and made up to 100 litres with water. Then it is ready to spray.

*Quassia-Tobacco solution

Simmer 50gm quassia chips in a litre of water for an hour remove from the flame, add half  a cigareette (or a number of cigarette butts) and allow to stand for a day. Strim and add 100 gm of soft soap and 5 litres of water. This solution is highly effective against mealy bugs (144).

Quassia sprays should not be used on plants with edble fruit or leaves. The solution is extremely bitter and is stable and long lasting (92).