FUMIGANT TOXICITY OF NATURAL PLANT PRODUCTS IN FORM OF ESSENTIAL OILS AGAINST PULSE BEETLE CALLOSOBRUCHUS CHINENSIS (L.) (COLEOPTERA:BRUCHIDAE)

The cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus chinensis L. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), is an important pest of stored cowpea, Vigna ungiculata (L.) Walpers (Fabales: Fabaceae), with ample distribution in tropical and subtropical regions. Many plant essential oils have a broad-spectrum activity against pest insects, and these oils traditionally have been used in the protection of stored products. The present investigation was aimed to assess the impact of two essential oils for their insecticidal activity against C. chinensis and they were tested in laboratory. In this study, the lethal and sub-lethal effects of essential oils from Aegle marmelos (L) Correa (Rutaceae) and Citrus reticulata (Rutaceae) were evaluated against the larvae and adults of C. chinensis at 30 ± 2° C, 75 ± 5% RH, and a photoperiod of 10:14 L:D. The LC50 values of A. marmelos and C. reticulata were 14.351 !IL and 15.231 !IL after 72 hr against adults and 13.296 [t.1_, and 14.997 1.11_, after 72 hr of exposure against larvae, respectively. Therefore, these essential oils can be suggested for controlling C. chinensis in storage systems