Abstract

Sitophilus zeamais is a key pest of stored cereals. The insecticidal properties of Laurelia sempervirens powder against S. zeamais were assessed in laboratory. The variable evaluated were mortality of adult insects by contact and fumigant toxicity, mortality of immature insects by contact toxicity, residual effect of powder stored under environmental or refrigerated conditions, adult insect emergence (F1), repellency and weight reduction and germination of maize. The concentrations evaluated were 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0% and the experimental design was completely randomly. In contact toxicity bioassay all treatments showed mortality over 90% while fumigant activity did not exceed 40%. The F1 only was registered in treatment of 0.25% and control showing all other treatments 0%. In immature control bioassay all treatments exhibited statistical differences with control. The storage of powder under refrigerated conditions not improved the residual effect. All concentrations of powder assessed showed repellence. Germination and grain weight loss of maize seeds not showed significant differences with control. We concluded that L. sempervirens has promissory perspectives to stored grain pests control.