Abstract:
Humans and animals share the same environmental resources for food. Storage insect pests destroy food grains in storage. Environmentally sound pest management methods rely on cultural, physical, biological and botanical pesticides. In the present study the insecticidal activities of Lupinus albus (juice and powder) and Areki (local spirit) were examined against maize weevil, Stiphilus zeamais. The Experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD), with three replications. The doses of 0g/kg, 20g/kg, 40g/kg and 60g/kg of Lupine powder; 0ml/kg, 20ml/kg, 40ml/kg and 60ml/kg of Lupine juice, and /kg, 20ml/kg, 40ml/kg and 60ml/kg of areki were used. Weevil mortality, number of holes on a random sample of maize seeds, seed weight loss and rate of germination for each treatment were recorded. Based on the analysis of variance, the treatments significantly varied in weevil reproduction (F71,144= 116.15, P<0.0001), in number of holes per seed (F11, 24= 631.1, P<0.0001), in seed weight loss (F11, 24= 1499.2, p<0.0001), in the rate of maize seed germination after treatment (F11, 24= 93.53, P<0.0001) and in the level of reproduction of weevils (F71,144 = 93.116.15, P<0.0001). Doses of 0ml/kg, 20ml/kg, 40ml/kg and 60ml/kg of areki; 0ml/kg, 20ml/kg, 40ml/kg and 60ml/kg of Lupine juice and 0g/kg, 20g/kg, 40g/kg and 60g/kg of Lupine powder resulted in 100% weevils’ mortality after one day, three day and one week exposure for each treatments respectively. Generally weevil’s mortality increased with dose of each treatment and time. In all treatments with each doses (4, 8 and 12), reproduction of maize weevils were 100% protected. The number of holes and weight loss were recorded only on the untreated maize grains. Suggesting the powerful effect of these products against the weevils. Higher doses of Lupine juice affected germination of maize grain whereas Areki (local spirit) and Lupine powder have not any effect on seed germination. Generally Lupine products and Areki (local spirit) may be used for stored grain protection.