A comparative analysis of insecticidal potential of leaf powder against maize weevil

Danjuma Micheal Ahmed

Abstract

Both Chromolaena odorata and Citrus limon are common in tropical areas as an important weed and fruit crop respectively. Dried and pulverized leaves of C. odorata and fruit peels of C. limon were evaluated at the rate of 15, 10 and 5 g per 100g of maize grain variety JZSR. C. odorata proved to be efficacious in the control of the maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais) at the three concentrations with percentage mortalities of 75, 70 and 63.75, respectively, while C. limon was less effective providing insect mortalities of 60, 50 and 47.50%, respectively. Only C. odorata showed comparable results to that of Actellic dust (75.25%, used as a check) conferring with C. odorata leaf powder at 15 and 10 g, as the Actellic dust, a better protection against S. zeamais. Although the rest of treatments were not that protective, they achieved better protection than the untreated control. On progeny emergence, there were no significant differences among treatments. The overall attractiveness of stored grains was affected by the greenish brown colour of C. odorata leaf powder.