Insecticidal activity of four medicinal plant powders and extracts against Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) [Lepidoptera: Gelechidae]

Abstract

Powders and extracts prepared from Capsicum frutescens, Cymbopogon citratus, Moringa oleifera, Anacardium occidentale were tested for their insecticidal potential against Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella. The powder of C. frutescens had the highest mortality rate of 100% after 2 days of application at all tested concentrations. The extracts killed all the adult moths introduced at all tested concentrations. The survival of the moth from egg to adult when treated with the plant powders showed significantly greater mortality. Extracts of all the tested plants were toxic to adult moths and also prevent hatching of the eggs of S. cerealella.

Keywords: mortality, hatchability, adult emergence