THE EFFICACY OF Azadirachta indica (NEEM PLANT) LEAF POWDER AGAINST MAIZE WEEVIL, Sitophilus zeamais MOTSCHULSKY

The experiment was set up to assess the insecticidal properties of Azadirachta indica (neem plant) leaf powder on Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD), using four replications each for two treatments and also four replications for the control (untreated), from December, 2012 to March, 2013 at the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. These were incubated for 46 days; the F1 progeny and weevil mortality were taken daily. Temperature and relative humidity ranged from 290C to 310C and 70% to 83% respectively. Mortality was highest (3.25) in 10g concentration and lowest (0.25) in the untreated (control). Progeny emergence was highest (187.50) in the untreated (control) and lowest (20.75) in the 10g concentration. The mean progeny emergence in the untreated maize grains was significantly different (P<0.05) from emergence in the treated grains. Analysis of variance showed that Azadirachta indica powders caused significant mortality to the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais. There was however, no significant difference between the concentrations, but there was significant difference (P<0.05) between the concentrations and the control. The study suggests that leaf powder of Azadirachta indica can be used as a good alternative to pesticides against Sitophilus zeamais.