Efficacy of Neem and Eucalyptus Leaf Powders for the Management of Maize Weevil Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Dried Sweet Potatoes

Maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a polyphagous storage pest in many crops of economic and food security importance. Its management currently relies mainly on synthetic chemical pesticides. However, plant botanicals are known to exhibit insecticidal properties which can be used manage the weevil stored dry sweet potatoes. To study effect neem eucalyptus leaf powders, an experiment was set up at Busitema University laboratory. Neem leaves were processed into powders. 400g dried potato chips weighed placed 4 different plastic buckets. Under laboratory conditions, buckets inoculated with 30 unsexed newly emerged adult weevils. each bucket, 40g powders introduced as single combination. The replicated three times. Data mortality, growth inhibition, produce damage weight loss collected over period 84 days. Analysis variance showed that all significant (P<0.001) increase mortality inhibition maize decrease compared control. combination superiority parameters measured. Effectiveness order; (neem + eucalyptus) > powder powder.