Laboratory evaluation of mahogany (Khaya senegalensis (Desv.) seed oil and seed powder for the control of Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) on stored cowpea

The efficacy of Khaya senegalensis seed oil and powder was evaluated for the control of Callosobruchus maculatus on stored cowpea. The oil was extracted locally by steaming of the dry K. senegalensis seeds in a large cooking pot after pounding into a paste in a mortar. Similarly the seed shaft leftover from the extraction process was dried in the oven at 30°C and pounded in a mortar and further macerated in an electric moulinex kitchen blender into fine powder. This was compared with actellic Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC) and actellic dust as standards. Adult mortality of C. maculatus was highest within 24 h post treatment with seed oil concentrations at 1, 2 and 3 mL/100 g of cowpea. The seed oil significantly (p<0.05) reduced the F1 and F2 progeny emergence but did not differ significantly (p>0.05) when compared with the control. For all the parameters investigated, K. senegalensis seed oil did not differ significantly with Actellic EC in the Control of C. maculatus, during the study. © 2007 Academic Journals.