The Effectiveness of traditional remedies in controlling weevils in maize

Author

Mudiwa, Salome N.

Title

The Effectiveness of traditional remedies in controlling weevils in maize

Abstract

Sitophilus zeamais is the major insect pest seen damaging stored maize in Zimbabwe. The environmental hazards of synthetic insecticides, the unreliability supply and high costs of these chemicals resulted in the search for cheaper and safer use of the naturally available plant material to control this pest. This study evaluates effective rates for Eucalyptus, Lantana camara and cassia abbreviata leaf powder. Bioactivity of these leaf powders extract was evaluated under average room temperature at three dosage levels (0. 5g, 1.0g and 1.5g. A positive control of Actellic Gold Dust was also used at label rates and the effect of time, dosage and treatment on mortality of maize weevils was assessed. The 1.5g of eucalyptus that recorded the highest mortality inflicted 85.25%.

Date

June 2023

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Maize,

Sitophilus zeamais,

Synthetic insecticides

Supervisor

Dr, Mureva,