Efficacy of cashew kernel extracts in the control of the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract

Six different solvents namely: methanol, ethanol, water, acetone, pet-ether or n-hexane was used to extract the essential oils from cashew kernel. The extracted oils were evaluated on Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky 1855) for mortality, oviposition and adult emergence effects. The long-term storage and water absorption capacity of the treated maize grains was also investigated. Results showed that the steam distillate was most lethal on S. zeamais. The least potent extracts on S. zeamais were those extracted with methanol and ethanol. The extracts drastically reduced oviposition in S. zeamais. Maize grains treated with steam distillate extract had the lowest water absorption capacity, while the highest water absorption capacity was obtained in grains treated with ethanol and methanol. Extracts of steam distillate, n-hexane, petroleum ether and acetone completely prevented infestation and subsequence damage of the treated maize grains for a period of three months. In the grains treated with the methanol and ethanol extracts, damage of 28.61% and 6.24%, respectively were obtained. The results obtained reveal that extracts of cashew kernel are effective in controlling S. zeamais and could serve as an alternative to synthetic insecticides.