Ovicidal activity of Clerodendrum infortunatum on the pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis (Bruchidae: coleoptera)

Studies were carried out on the ovicidal efficacy of petroleum ether and methanol extracts of Clerodendrum infortunatum at different concentrations (0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 6%) on the pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis. It was found that irrespective of solvents used for extraction, a dose dependent effect was observed among the two extracts. Maximum egg mortality (95.99%) was obtained with 6% concentration of petroleum ether extract and minimum (15.3%) with 0.5% methanol extract. In the case of petroleum ether extract, the percentage of mortality at 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 6 per cent concentrations was 46.24, 78.56, 84.52, 90.82 and 95.99 respectively and corresponding values for methanol extracts were 15.3, 52.23, 56.8, 62.35 and 78.60 respectively. All the larvae hatched out from the eggs did not develop to adult stage.