Effects of Hyptis spicigera Lam. (Labiatae) on the behaviour and development of Callosobruchus maculatus F. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), a pest of stored cowpeas

Abstract

The use of beni seed, Hyptis spicigera Lam. (Labiatae), to protect stored cowpeas from bruchid attacks is a widespread practice in West Africa. More knowledge about its actual effects on storage pests is needed to enhance its effectiveness. In this laboratory study, repellent and lethal effects of powder and essential oil from H. spicigera on Callosobruchus maculatus, the main pest of stored cowpeas, were studied. Repellency tests undertaken with a Y-tube olfactometer showed that powder was repulsive for C. maculatus adults. On the other hand, this product had no insecticidal activity. Essential oil had a dose-dependent insecticidal effect while sublethal doses repelled the adults. Both products reduced oviposition by 15 – 19 and 7 – 78% according to the doses of powder and essential oil, respectively, tested. Similarly, egg viability decreased with increasing doses of powder and essential oil used in a range of 40 – 75 and 24 – 86%, respectively. Only essential oil was lethal to C. maculatus larvae developing within cowpea seeds; however, oil activity was age-dependent, younger instars being more susceptible. These results are discussed with a view of controlling C. maculatus populations in stored cowpeas.

Keywords:

• Cowpea storage
• Callosobruchus maculatus
• Hyptis spicigera
• lehal
• repellent

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the International Foundation for Science (IFS) which supported this work by providing grant no. C/3393 to Dr Antoine Sanon. They also thank the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), which enabled collaboration and exchanges between the Universities of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) and Tours (France).