Bioactiviity of Jatropha curcas L. to insect pests of stored products

The objective of this research was to assess insecticidal activity of seeds and derivatives of Jatropha curcas to insect pests of stored grains. Lethal exposure times were estimated for 50 and 95% (LT50 and LT95) of the adults of Sitophilus zeamais and Rhyzorpertha dominica to seeds of four genotypes off. curcas: Goncalo, Paraguacu, Filomena and Bento. Toxicity of powders and aqueous extracts from seeds and pericarps off. curcas were tested on S. zeamais, R. dominica, Tribolium castaneum and Oryzaephilus surimanensis. A uniform toxic response was observed among the four genotypes for S. zeamais and R. dominica. The powders and aqueous extracts from seeds and pericarps were lethal to S. zeamais, R. dominica, T. castaneum and O. surimanensis. However, insect mortality was higher in the treatments from seeds, compared to the treatments from pericarps. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.