*Corresponding author's E-mail: pooja.ddu@gmail.com
Essential oils extracted from leaves or twigs of four aromatic plants namely Chenopodium ambrosioides Linn., Clausena pentaphylla (Roxb.)DC, Mentha arvensis Linn. and Ocimum sanctum Linn. were tested for their ovicidal and feeding deterrent activities against eggs and adults of two pulse beetles i.e. Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) and C. maculatus (F.) at different concentrations and exposure periods respectively. The results revealed that highest ovicidal and antifeedant activities were observed in Chenopodium oil followed by Clausena, Mentha and Ocimum oils at 24h exposure period. All the tested oils exhibited 100% mortality of eggs at 20µl dose and 24 and 48h exposure periods for both species of pulse beetles. However, only Chenopodium and Clausena oils caused 100% reduction in feeding capacity of insects.
