Biological Activities of Five Weed Extracts against Callosobruchus chinensis L. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

This study was conducted with n-hexane extracts of sensitive plant Mimosa pudica, mexican poppy Argemone mexicana, panimarich Leucus aspara, water pepper Polygonum hydropiper and shialmutra Blumea lacera weeds against pulse beetle Callosobruchus chinensis (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) for protection of mung bean Vigna radiata grains. The LC50 values of the weed extracts ranged from 4.5 to 6.4, 4.1 to 5.6 and 3.6 to 5.5 g/100 mL at 24, 48 and 72 hours of post treatment, respectively. The extracts showed 35 to 69% fecundity and 33 to 63% adult emergence inhibitory effect on the pest, and revealed 13 to 49% grain protection of mung beans. Insect mortality, fecundity and adult emergence inhibitory effects, and grain protection activity increased with increased concentration of the extracts. The shialmutra followed by water pepper extracts revealed better performances in fecundity and adult beetle emergence inhibitory effect compared to the other weeds. The findings proved that the n-hexane extracts of the five weeds are sources of botanical insecticides which may be used in the integrated management of C. chinensis.