Mothcidal activity of three botanical extracts against Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier, 1789) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) infesting rice grains

igated at ambient temperature (28 ± 2 °C) and relative humidity (75% ± 5%). Adult moths were exposed to 1%, 2% and 3% concentration of each oil extract and mortality was recorded at day 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 post-treatment, respectively. The control experiments were also set-up. All the three botanicals exhibit moth mortality irrespective of the concentration and exposure time. However, only C. crepidoides elicited complete moth mortality (100%) irrespective of the concentration and exposure time while A. boonei oil extract applied at 1%, 2% and 3% showed the least moth mortality regardless of the exposure time. Similarly, 2% and 3% concentration of each botanical showed complete moth mortality at 4 and 5 days post-treatment, respectively. Least (6.60%) and highest (23.30%) adult emergence was also observed in grain exposed to 1% of C. crepidoides and A. boonei, respectively, while G. kola and C. crepidoides applied at 3% completely prevented moth emergence and loss in weight in rice grains. This study showed that oil extract of G. kola and C. crepidoides would provide a much desired wherewithal to synthetic insecticides in the management of S. cerealella infesting rice grains in Nigeria.