EVALUATION OF INSECTICIDAL POTENTIAL OF POWDERS OF AZADIRACHTA INDICA, MOMORDICA CHARENTIA AND ALLIUM SATIVUM AGAINST CALLOSOBRUCHUS CHINENSIS (COLEOPTERA: BRUCHIDAE)

Dhora, Callosobruchus chinensis L., is a major pest of stored gram and other pulses. Pulse beetle, C. chinensis has developed resistance against fumigants and synthetic grain protectants in developing countries. These chemicals are a big source of environmental pollution and also affect the non target animals. This research activity was carried out to find alternate control practice for the management of insect pests of stored pulses. The present project was conducted to evaluate the effect of different doses of powders of Azadirachta indica L. (Neem), Momordica charentia (Bitter gourd) and Allium sativum L. (Garlic) on adult population of C. chinensis. The triply replicated experiment, using Completely Randomized Design (CRD), was carried out in the Grain Research, Training and Storage Management Cell of the Department of Agri. Entomology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Three different doses (1.0g, 1.5g and 2.0g per 50g of grains) of each plant powder were used. The data for percent mortality was collected after three different exposure times (20, 40 and 60 days). Collected data was analyzed statistically using Statistica software.