NEEM AZAL-F AS AN INHIBITOR OF GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION IN THE COWPEA APHID APHIS-CRACCIVORA KOCH

The effect of various concentrations of Neem Azal-F (a commercial prod uct of neem seed kernel extract with 5% azadirachtin content) on adult and first nymphal instars of the cow pea aphid Aphis craccivara was s tudied. The extract had a deterrent and anti-feedant effect which hind ered larviposition of the adults and decreased the reproductive period as well as the longevity of the adults.Also, the extract had an aphic idal effect against aphid, hindered development of the nymphs and elon gated the duration of the nymphal stage. Nymphal treatment also result ed in a high percentage of winged form between the resulting progeny a nd, as the concentration increased, the percentage of winged form incr eased. The bioactivity of this extract against the adult aphids was as sayed. Neem Azal-F exhibited magnitude activity during the first 3 day s after spraying.