LABORATORY EVALUATION OF MELIA AZEDARACH (MELIACEAE) EXTRACTS AGAINSTTHE ELM LEAF BEETLE (COLEOPTERA, CHRYSOMELIDAE)

In laboratory trials, treatment of elm leaves with an ethanolic extrac t of Melia azedarach fruits of 2, 5, and 10% concentration significant ly deterred feeding by larvae and adults of the elm leaf beetle, Xanth ogalleruca luteola (Muller). Larvae forced to feed on treated leaves d ied without moulting; mortality also increased dramatically in adults fed on treated leaves. Survival and development of larvae sprayed with the extract also were negatively affected, but no effects were observ ed when adults were sprayed. The effects were generally independent of extract concentration within the range tested, except in the larval-s praying and adult-feeding choice tests, where the lowest dose had litt le or no significant effect.