Persistence And Repellency Potentials Of Balanites Aegyptiaca And Azadirachta Indica Seed Oils Against Tropical Warehouse Moth (Ephestia Cautella Walker) In Stored Maize

A study was conducted to assess the persistence and repellency potentials of seed oils of desert date (Balanites aegyptiaca) and neem (Azadirachta indica) against the tropical warehouse moth (Ephestia cautella walker), Dichlorvos (DDVP) was used as a positive control. Different concentrations of neem and desert date oils (10, 15, 20, and 25 ml/l) and DDVP (10 ml/l) were used to treat 100 g of maize grains, while repellency of the insect to the oils on treated filter paper was also assessed at the same dose rates, arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and means were separated using the New Duncan Multiple Range Test (NDMRT) at 0.05 %. Results showed that Dichlorvos, desert date and neem seed oils caused 100 % mortality, and repellency of 33.33, 86.67 and 66.67 %, respectively after 72 hours. The oils remain effective for 12 weeks with percent mean damage (80.71 % and 92.36 %) and weight loss (29.76 % and 59.79 %) when treated with a high dose (25ml/l) and longer duration of 12 weeks, respectively while, the control has 81.18 and 34.36 % of grain damage and weight loss, respectively. The positive control (DDVP) has 63.89 % and 21.49 % of grain damage and weight loss. It is, therefore, concluded that desert date and neem seed oils significantly caused E. cautella mortality. proven that desert date and neem seed oils provide good protection to maize grains and could be considered as a substitute to Dichlorvos.