Evaluation of Some Botanicals Against Maize Weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motsch. (Coleoptera: Cruculionidae) on Stored Sorghum under Laboratory Condition at Sirinka

Abstract

Sixteen botanical products were tested for their efficacy to control maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais on stored sorghum seeds, under laboratory conditions. For comparison, three more treatments- primiphos methyl, malathion and untreated check were included and the experiment was replicated three times. Within 28 days after treatment, some botanical products caused 100 percent mortality o f the weevil, which was comparable to the two synthetic insecticides. These were seed and leaf powder of Chenopodiwn ambrosioides, stem powder o f Cissus rotundifolia, leaf powder of Jatropha curcas and seed powder of Phytolocca dodecandn. The botanicals, which caused over 50 percent cumulative mortality of the weevils at 14 days after treatments include, C. ambrososiodes (seed, leaf), J- curcas (leaf), P. dodecandn., C. rotundifolia (stem) and Maesa lanceolata (leaf)- The effect o f the promising botanical treatments on weevil progeny survival as well as on seed germination and seed weight loss are discussed.