EFFECT OF NEEMAZAL, A NATURAL AZADIRACHTIN-CONTAINING PREPARATION, ONPERIPLANETA-AMERICANA (L) (ORTHOPT, BLATTIDAE)

NeemAzal, a commercial neem preparation with an azadirachtin content o f 20%, was proven to be a growth retardant for the cockroach Periplane ta americana. As shown in the reduction of food consumption, the effec t of NeemAzal, ingested as food, is predominantly to interpret as a ph agodeterrent effect. The decreased ingestion of food results in a reta rdation of growth of the larvae and finally in a reduction of the repr oductivity of the adults. The results suggest that a long-term decimat ion of a population with a small fluctuation until its breakdown by in tensive and permanent offering a NeemAzal-containing bait may be possi ble.