REPELLENT EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT PRODUCTS OF THE NEEM TREE ON THE RED LOCUST, NOMADACRIS-SEPTEMFASCIATA SERV, IN MAIZE FIELDS IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PARTS OF MADAGASCAR

The repellent effect of 3 different neem formulations was tested on re d locust, Nomadacris septemfasciata Serv., in a maize field in the sou thwest of Madagascar. A simple water extract from neem seed kernels (2 00 l and 600 l per ha), an enriched neem ULV-formulation (2 l per ha) and a dust, prepared on the base of neem seed cake (5 kg per ha) were applied. All four treatments provided protection from attack for at le ast five days. The water extract was significantly active until 7 days , the neem-ULV-formulation until 9 days after treatment. The applicati on of neem seed kernel water extract could be a simple means for Malag asy farmers to protect their fields against red locust. N. septemfaxci ata is a very interesting test organism because it is much easier to w ork with this species compared to the taxonomical closely related dese rt locust (Schistocerca gregaria Forsk.).