Comparative efficacy of some indigenous plant extracts against the pulse beetle Callosobruchus maculatus F-(Coleoptera : Bruchidae)

The efficacy of nine plant species belonging to seven families have been ev aluated in the form of aqueous extracts for their insecticidal, anti-ovipos itional and ovicidal properties against the pulse beetle, Callosobruchus ma culatus F., infesting cow pea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. Small gunny bag s were treated with a 10% concentration of each extract. Cowpea seeds (50g) were stored in the treated bags and two pairs of neonate adults of C. macu latus were introduced into plastic containers containing the treated bags. Cowpeas protected with the aqueous extracts of Coleus aromaticus Berth., Mo rinda tinctoria Buch-Ham., and Cassia siamea Lam. were found to be effectiv e in reducing egg laying, adult emergence and percent reduction in weight l oss. Among the ten plant extracts screened, Crateva adansonii DC (Buch-Ham) M. Jacobs., and Abrus precatorius L., were not effective against these bee tles during the post harvest storage under laboratory conditions for 60 day s.