The maize weevil (
Sitophilus zeamais
Motschulsky) is one of the most widespread pests and causes heavy losses of stored
grain throughout the world. Control of this insect is primarily dependent upon continued applications of organophosphorus
and pyrethroid insecticides and fumigants as phosphine but the increasing problems with current insecticides drive the need
for research and to develop new control methods. The insecticidal effect of leaf powder of tepa,
Laureliopsis philippiana
(Looser) Shodde, was evaluated against maize weevil under laboratory conditions. The parameters evaluated were adult
mortality and emergence, grain weight loss and germination, and residual, repellent and fumigant effect. The highest levels
of insect mortality were registered with treatments at 1, 2, and 4%, with values from 94.7 to 100%. Also, it was obtained
0% of adult insect emergence with these concentrations. In all treatments grain weight was less than 5.8 g. Seed germination
was not affected. The powder of
L. philippiana exhibited repellent effect in all concentrations and did not show fumigant
effect. Insecticidal effect of powder remained for 14 d. Finally, we concluded that powder of
L. philippiana has great
potential for controlling
S. zeamais.
