Bioefficacy of Oils Against Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) Infesting Stored Cowpea Seeds as Grain Protectant

Bioefficacy of oils against Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) infesting stored cowpea seeds as grain protectant was carried out in laboratory at College of Agriculture Dapoli, Ratnagiri (M.S.) to develop an economic, effective and easily available prophylactic control measure against pulse beetle. The results revealed that, among various treatments of oil, the Neem oil was found most effective treatment where in, only 30 per cent hatching was noticed. The maximum developmental period of 30.96 days was observed in safflower oil while minimum 25.04 days in Sesame oil. Longevity of adults in untreated control was recorded 10.80 days which was very high and it was comparatively very low i.e. 2.40 to 2.60 days among the treatments of Undi oil and Castor oil, respectively. Per cent loss in weight was ranged from 0.00 to 20.67 against 29.19 per cent in untreated control. The treatments with Neem oil and Karanj oil were found highly effective in preventing weight loss in cowpea (0.00%). The Karanj oil and Neem oil found highly effective which, provide per cent protection to the cowpea grains as there was no adult emergence observed and less per cent loss in weight.