CONTROL OF CORN AND DRY BEAN PESTS USING MINERAL AND PLANT POWDERS

Abstract

The effect of seven plant podwers and two mineral powders against the attack of Sitophilus zeamais, Acanthoscelides obtectus and Zabrotes subfasciatus on stored grains of corn (Zea mays L.) and dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), was evaluated. The powders were obtained by drying, milling and sifting the plants, and by sifting the minerals. They were applied in doses of 1%. One hundred adult insects per plot were added when the pest population was low, to ensure infestation of the treatment. The best treatments in stored beans against Acanthoscelides obtectus were those including the plant powders from Ricinus communis and Larrea tridentata and the powder from light teckies (commercial inert) and calcium carbonate. The powders of Castilleja tenuiflora and calcium carbonate protected stored beans against Zabrotes subfasciatus. The powders of Ricinus communis and light teckies protected corn grains against Sitophilus zeamais.