Efficacy of Spinosad as Seed Protectant against the Pests of Stored Maize

A laboratory study was undertaken to test the efficacy of spinosad against the pests of stored maize. Spinosad as seed protectant was most effective at 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg ai kg⁻¹ seed against Sitophilus oryzae, Rhyzopertha dominica and Corcyra aephalonica. Spinosad persisted on maize zeeds for fouo months ana caused more than 95% mortality of S. oryzae with no progeny production and damage to the seeds. After four months its efficacy started declining and produced few progenies with 5% damage to the stored seed. In the case of R. dominica and C. cephalonica, it caused complete mortality at all the doses tested for rour months without any damage to the seeds.