Abdulrasak Kannike Musa;A.A. Adeyem

Department of Crop Protection, University of Ilorin, P. M. B. 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria;Department of Crop Protection, University of Ilorin, P. M. B. 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria.

seed powder;insecticidal potential;seed damage;tested;larval mortality;meleguet

Abstract The insecticidal potential of seed powders of Capsicum chinense Jacq. (Solanaceae) and Aframomum melegueta K. Schum. (Zingiberaceae) was tested against Trogoderma granarium (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) in the laboratory at (28±2)°C and 70%±5% relative humidity. The seed powders were tested at the rates of 0.0%, 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% (w/w) of groundnut seeds replicated three times. At the highest rate of treatment, C. chinense caused 56.7% and 76.8% larval mortality at 3 and 7 days post treatment (DPT) respectively while A. melegueta exerted 53.4% and 73.8% larval mortality at 3 and 7 DPT, respectively. Results showed that insecticidal potential of the seed powders against adult mortality of T. granarium and seed damage followed similar trend. The various rates of C. chinense seed powder performed better than A. melegueta seed powder in causing larval and adult mortality and in reducing seed damage. The activity of the seed powders on mortality of the insect, seed weight loss and seed damage were exposure time and rate dependent. A significant reduction (p