INSECTICIDAL EFFECT OF SOME SELECTED BOTANICAL EXTRACTS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF MAIZE WEEVIL (SITOPHILUS ZEAMAIS) IN STORED MAIZE GRAINS

Abstract

The research work was conducted to evaluate the insecticidal effect of some selected botanicals for the management of maize weevil in stored maize grains, in the laboratory of Department of crop production Federal University of Technology Main Campus, Gidan kwano. Extracts of Azardirachta indica, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Nicotiana tobaccum and the mixture of the three botanicals were tested against maize weevils at different level (1 g, 2 g and 3 g respectively) and compared with permethrine dust. Data on mortality rate of weevils were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The means were separated for their significancy using Least Significance Difference (LSD) test. The result indicated that Eucalyptus tereticornis leaf extract gave the maximum effect on maize weevil mortality followed by the mixture of the three botanicals and Azadirachta indica. Nicotiana tobaccum had minimum effect on the weevil mortality when compared with other treatments. The trial indicates that Eucalyptus tereticornis had the highest effect on weevil mortality at all level followed by Azadirachta indica. Both Eucalyptus tereticornis and Azadirachta indica are thereby recommended for insect pest control.