CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

One of our greatest problems especially the farmers are the pests. They cause

us many troubles. They eat the plants from which we get our food and they also make

the work of farmers more difficult.

Rice is a staple food in the Philippines. It connotes survival, and the absence of it

would mean starvation. If the pests destroy it continuously, time may come that we will

experience the scarcity of rice. On the other hand, these pests also affect the fruits and

vegetables from which we get the nutrients that are needed by our body and from which

many people get their income.

It is just very simple to make. We can do it in lesser time, lesser expenses, and

lesser work but with great assurance that it is effective though we cannot say that this is

totally safe and has no harmful effects. However, with proper use and carefulness, this

will be a big help for us all.

Ants can transmit infectious bacteria, including Salmonella and Staphylococcus.

It has been reported at least as far back as 1914 (Wheeler) that if an ant walks through

an area densely populated with infectious bacteria, they track it along in quantities large

enough to show up in a Petri dish. Many of the typical invasives have been found to

carry such pathogens (pharaoh ants, and fire ants).

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Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the effectivity of chili (Capsicum annuum), orange

peels (Citrus sinensis), and cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) as an organic pest

repellant.

Specifically, this study aims to:

Compare the effectivity of chili, orange peels and cinnamon essential oil extract

in warding off ants.

Significance of the Study

This can help stop spreading diseases from pests because ants can carry

bacteria and might transfer them to food or an open wound. This study will provide other

people with alternatives to commercial insecticides. This can also help the farmers to

control the increasing amount of pest because ants are a serious pest to humans and

livestock.

Scope and Delimitations of the Study

The researchers only used chili, orange peels and cinnamon essential oil in

making the organic insecticide. The organic insecticide was sprayed only on ants

(Formicidae).

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 CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This review of related literature focuses on the effect of cinnamon, chili and

orange peelings as a natural insecticide. This study contains information about

cinnamon, where can it be obtained, its description, and the effect and what is does to

insect. The study and test of chili if it has a potential to be used as an extract to

pesticide production, what is does to insects. And the uses of orange peelings.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a spice that comes from the branches of wild trees that belong to

the genus "Cinnamomum" (Nordqvist, 2015). Cinnamon is also called as

Cinnamonmum zeylanicum. Cinnamon is a spice that can be obtained in the inner bark

of a small, tropical evergreen cinnamon tree (Park, 2011). Cinnamon is the second most

popular spice, next to black pepper in the United States and Europe (Nordqvist, 2015).

Cinnamon trees are native to Southeast Asia. Cinnamon has a long history both as a

spice and as a medicine. Cinnamon is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron and

calcium. Cinnamon's essential oils also qualify it as an "anti-microbial" food, and the

cinnamon has been studied for it can stop the growth of bacteria as well as fungi

(Zoladz, 2004). It is also effective in reducing blood sugar levels and lowering

cholesterol. Cinnamon can be used as an insecticide to get rid of the undesirable

insects that can be found in your house. Dengue fever is a viral disease spread by

mosquitoes. Particularly, pure cinnamon is effective in killing mosquito larvae, can act

as an all-purpose insect repellent (American Chemical Society, 2004) Insects dislike

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cinnamon for two reasons: (a) insects do not like the feeling of the powder in their

mandibles, and, (b) insects hate the spice odor. The advantages of using cinnamon as

a natural insecticide are the house will be free from unwelcomed insects, and the

cinnamon will give a wonderful aroma. Natural insecticide will reduce the amount of

poisoned children and pets from ingesting insect repellents, which contain chemicals, as

well as repel the insects in the house without the potential for unpleasant health effects.

Cinnamaldehyde is the main component in the cinnamon leaf oil and is used worldwide

as a flavoring agent (American Chemical Society, 2004). Bark oil from the

Cinnamomum cassia tree is the most common source of cinnamaldehyde. The

disadvantage of cinnamon is that, if cinnamon is used too much in the insect repellent, it

can burn your skin since its highly concentrated (Park, 2011).

Orange Peelings

Orange peelings are the rind of the orange. The Florida orange juice industry

generates 5 million tons of citrus peel waste annually (Bloch, 2007). The oil on the

orange peelings can also be used to remove water stains in your metal fixtures (Bloch,

2007). And orange peelings can also be used to remove bad odors. Most insects hate

limonene, which comprises 95% of the oil in an oranges peel, and is being used in all

sorts of applications, including the manufacturing of plastics (Bloch, 2007). A pure blend

of orange peel and water can be applied to an area to discourage ants from crossing.

Citrus sinensis (sweet orange) and Citrus aurantifolia (lime) had insecticidal activity

against mosquitos (Ezeonu, 2001). Small piles of zest can be placed around an area to

keep it free from flies and mosquitoes (Bloch, 2007). The oil in orange peels shows

promise of being a powerful all-purpose insecticide (Bass, 1984) Orange oil can wipe

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out a colony of fire ants and could kill wasps and flies without harming any human,

animals and the environment (Bass, 1984). Orange oil is being used in many cleaning

products these days for its pleasant aroma and powerful solvent properties (Bloch,

2007). Some studies claim rubbing orange peel on your skin will repel mosquitoes.

Chili

Chili is the spicy fruit of plants in the genus Capsicum. Chili has been found as

one the oldest spice use in the world (Evans, 2007). Chili originated in South America

and is now widespread throughout the tropics and subtropics. Chili are now grown

around the world, and is widely used as medicine, and as or vegetables in cuisine

(Evans, 2007). Chili offers truly powerful medicine for boosting circulation, dilating blood

vessels and protecting the cardiovascular system (Evans, 2007). Chili has insecticidal

properties, insects do not like plants with strong odors or taste (Grover, n.d.). Capsaicin

that gives the chili its hot flavor is distasteful to insects. Spraying plants or the soil with

chili powder spray can keep away the insects from biting (Grover, n.d.). Chili can be

used to control ant infestations (Shwartz, 2001).

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Computation of the Effectiveness of the Spray

First they subtracted the percentage of dead in the heck plat from the

corresponding figure for the treated plat and called the remainder the

effectiveness of the treatment.

Let X = the percent living in the check.

Let Y = the percent living in the treated plat.

Then X Y = the percent killed by the treatment

And the percent killed by the treatment (X Y) divided by the percent of

living in the check (X) gives the control or expressed by an equation.

(Abott W.S.,1952)

100 =

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 CHAPTER 3

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Materials and Reagents

135 milliliters chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) adding more might kill the ants.

262 milliliters orange peel (Citrus sinesis) adding more can kill the ants. 47.4 milliliters

cinnamon essential oil (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) adding more can also kill the ants.

474 milliliters Water so that the pesticide wont have that much concentration.

Graduated cylinder to get accurate measurement for liquid substances. Electronic

balance used to measure solid substances. Beaker for temporary container. Spray

bottles container for the pesticide. Litmus paper to separate liquid and solid. Gloves

used for handling the cinnamon.

Procedure

Preparation of the Spray with Orange Peel

265 milliliters orange peels extract and 474 milliliters of water were added in a

beaker and mixed.

Preparation of the Spray with Chili

135 milliliters of chili pepper and 474 milliliters of water were added in a beaker

and mixed.

Preparation of the Spray with Cinnamon Essential Oil

47.3176 milliliters of cinnamon essential oil and 474 milliliters of water were

added in a beaker and mixed.

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Applying the Spray

The ants were enticed using a chocolate chip cookie. After the ants were

attracted, 30 ants were manually collected for each setup. Three (3) trays were

prepared, each having a dimension of 30x30 centimeters. Another chocolate chip

cookie was placed at the center of each tray so the ants will stay in one place. Thirty

(30) ants were placed in each tray. A small amount of water was placed around the

edge of each tray so that the ants would not cross it. The chili spray was applied to the

ants in setup A, the orange peel spray to the ants in setup B, and the cinnamon

essential oil spray to the ants in setup C. Each setup was sprayed with 2 milliliters of

each extract.

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 CHAPTER 4

RESULTS AND DSCUSSION

Table 1. Computation of Effectiveness of the Spray.

Spray Number of Number of Equation Percent

Ants Ants Left Control

Chili 30 18 30 18 40%
100
30

Orange peel 30 23 30 23 23.33%

100
30

Cinnamon 30 16 30 16 46.67%
100
30

Table 1 shows the computation of the effectiveness of each spray. The

effectiveness percentage of the orange peel spray is 23%, whereas the percentage for

chili is 40% and for the cinnamon essential oil is 46.67%. This shows that the cinnamon

essential oil spray is the most effective among the three sprays.

Cinnamon disrupts ant communication. Cinnamon leaf oil upsets an ants sense

of smell. Ants rely on a chemical scent known as pheromones to find food and send

signals back to their home base.

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 CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Conclusion

Based on the results, cinnamon essential oil spray is most effective ant repellant.

Recommendations

Based on the results and conclusions gathered, the researchers recommend the

following for the future use of this study:

Use of other organic repellants such as coffee grounds (ants are repulsed by the

strong smell the brewed coffee grounds put out), mint (mint deteriorates the

smelling abilities of ants and thus, aids in preventing ant attacks), and cucumber

and pepper (the taste of cucumber and smell of pepper is not appealing to ants).

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

American Chemical Society. (2004). Cinnamon Oil Kills Mosquitoes. Retrieved 1-31-

2016

from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/07/040716081706.htm

Evans, C. (2007). Chili peppers found to have been domesticated more than 6000 years

ago. Retrieved 02-13-2016 from

http://www.naturalnews.com/021757_chili_peppers_domesticated_crops.

Ezeanu, F.C. (2001). Insecticidal properties of volatile extracts of orange peels.

Retrieved 1-31-2016

from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852400001206

Grover, H. (n.d.). Homemade Chili Powder Sprays as an insecticide. Retrieved 02-13-

2016 from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/homemade-chili-powder-sprays-

insecticide-86195.html

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Kannall, E. (n.d.). Health Benefits of Organic Red bell peppers. Retrieved 1-31-2016

from http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/health-benefits-organic-red-bell-peppers-

8952.html

Lea, D. (n.d.). Organic pepper spray for insects. Retrieved 1-31-2016

from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/organic-pepper-spray-insects-78401.html

Nordqvist, J. (2015). Cinnamon: Health Benefits, Nutritional Information. Retrieved 1-

31-2016 from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266069.php

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 APPENDICES
RESEARCH DOCUMENTATION

Figure 1. Attracting the Ants for Chili Spray.

Figure 2. Attracting the Ants for Cinnamon Spray.

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 Figure 3. Attracting the Ants for Orange Peel Spray.

Figure 4. Ants Left After Being Sprayed with Chili Spray.

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Figure 5. Ants Left After Being Sprayed with Cinnamon Spray.

Figure 6. Ants Left After Being Sprayed with Orange Peel Spray.

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 CURRICULUM VITAE

Full name: Paul Ivan T. Bautista

Nickname: Paul

Age: 16

Contact Number: 09276226642

Address: Blk. 10 Lot. 1 Winston corner Peace East Fairview Quezon City

Hobbies: Playing games

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Food: Lasagna

Course want to take in college: Electrical Engineering

Ambitions: To be a successful person

Motto: The future is my unknown paradise.

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 CURRICULUM VITAE

Full name: Gerome Monforte Fevidal

Nickname: Ger/ Fevi

Age: 16

Contact Number: 09166073864

Address: Gabriela Silang Street New Capitol Estates 1, Commonwealth Avenue

Quezon City

Hobbies: Playing Basketball, Computer Games

Favorite Color: Red

Favorite Food:

Course want to take in college: Civil/Mechanical Engineering

Ambitions: Successful Businessman

Motto: "What is the point of living if you will get things easy"

17
 CURRICULUM VITAE

Full name: Daniel Nathan V. Tuazon

Nickname: Dan

Age: 16

Contact Number: 09088798776

Address: #60 Don Victorino St. Don Antonio Heights Quezon City

Hobbies: Playing computer, eating, sleeping, reading

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Food: Fruits

Course want to take in college: Computer Engineering

Ambitions: Become a computer engineer

Motto: Make it happen

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