The repellency, reproduction and survival of Sitophilus zeamais were evaluated under laboratory conditions with maize grains treated with powders obtained from fruits of Azadirachta indica A. Juss, leaves and fruits of Capsicum frutescens L., leaves of Eucalyptus citriodora Hook, Melia azedarach Blanco, Capsicum frutescens and Ricinus communis L., and a mixture of leaves, flowers and fruits of Chenopodium ambrosioides L.. The most repellent plant species were E. citriodora and C. frutescens (leaves). The only treatment that showed significant effect on survival and reproduction of S. zeamais was C. ambrosioides which caused 100% mortality and avoided the emergency of adults. The insecticide activity threshold was determined for this plant species and the minimal dosage for total control of this insect was 0.1645 g of powder per 20 g of maize.
Insecticidal plants; maize weevil; vegetable powders
