Efficacy of Two Indigenous Plant Extracts, Acacia auriculiformis and Azadirachta indica Against Rice Weevil, Sitophilus oryzae L.

Efficacy of neem (Azadirachta indica) and acacia (Acacia auriculiformis) extract was assessed on the basis of toxicity and repellency effects on rice weevils. The study followed a completely randomized design with three replications and six treatments: 5%, 7.5%, 10% concentrations of neem and 5%, 7.5%, 10% concentrations of acacia leaf extracts. The results revealed that neem leaf extract, particularly at 10%, exhibited the highest efficacy, showing 58.56% adult mortality and 58.67% repellency against rice weevil. In contrast, 5% acacia leaf extract demonstrated the lowest mortality (26.43%) and repellency (27.33%). The effectiveness of both extracts increased with higher concentrations, neem showing superior activity compared to acacia. These findings suggest that neem leaf extract, especially at higher concentrations, could serve as a promising, eco-friendly alternative for controlling rice weevil infestations in stored grains.

Keywords: Efficacy of neem extract; Acacia extract; Rice weevil.