Entomotoxicant Potential of Some Medicinal Plant Against Ephestia cautella Infesting Cocoa Bean in Storage

The entomotoxicant action of five different medicinal plant oils extracted with different solvents tested against Ephestia cautella infestation was conducted under laboratory condition. The ethanolic and petroleum ether extract of the botanicals were made using soxhlet apparatus. The oils were tested against the insect at 0.5 and 1.0ml dosages and each treatments were replicated three times. The ethanolic oil extract of M. tennuifolia was only the extract that acheived 100% moth mortality and its effect was significantly (p＜0.05) different from all other extracts. However, petroleum ether increased the effect of the other extracts on the survival of the moth as reflected by their LD50. Regardless of the solvent used, all the oils reduced the hatchability of the egg of the insect while adult emergence of the insect was prevented by all the oil extracts except 0.5ml dosage of C. frutescens and A. occidentale. Since ethanolic extract of M. tennuifolia appeared most effective against the adult moth, it could be recommended for immediate control of E. cautella infestation while other extracts could be used as protectant.