EFFECTS OF MELIA-AZEDARACH L ON OVIPOSITION AND FEEDING OF PLUTELLA-XYLOSTELLA L

Bioactivity of Melia azedarach L. was tested against diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella L. in the laboratory. The adults of DBM lai d significantly lesser number (upto 71%) of eggs pn the surfaces treat ed with methanolic extracts of M. azedarach than on those treated with solvent only, When larvae derived from above eggs were reared on fres h food, the mortality in the larval stage was upto 22.8% and that in p upal stage was upto 29.6%. The methanolic: extracts also reduced feedi ng among the larvae significantly, when methanolic extract-treated foo d was offered to second instar larvae in a different set of experiment , thus, indicating an antifeedant effect.