INSECTICIDAL ACTIVITIES OF BLACK PEPPER AND RED PEPPER IN POWDER FORM ON ADULTS OF RHYZOPERTHA DOMINICA (F.) AND SITOPHILUS GRANARIUS (L.)

The experiment was conducted to investigate the insecticidal activities of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) seed powder and red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fruit powder, against Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) and Sitophilus granarius (L.) These powders were mixed with 20 g wheat grains as direct admixtures at different rates viz, 0, 0.15, 0.2, 0.27, 0.37 and 0.5% (w/w) for black pepper and 0, 0.5, 0.85, 1.5, 3 and 5% (w/w) for red pepper to assess for mortality and reduction of Fl progeny. The results revealed that black pepper at 0.5% concentration caused 100% mortality of S. granarius in the first five days, also R. dominica showed complete mortality at 5% level after 14 days, but red pepper did not cause complete mortality on two insects after 14 days. Both plant materials caused complete reduction in Fl progeny of S. granarius and R. dominica at highest tested dosages.