Management of Sitophilus zeamais Motshulsky (Coleoptera: Ciurculionidae) and Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) (Lepidoptera: Gelechidae) using Locally Available Inert Materials in Southern Ethiopia

Locally available inert materials including sawdust, coffee husk and wood ash were evaluated at different proportions against Sitophilus zeamais and Sitotrog cerealella in 2002 in Awassa National Maize Project entomology loboratory. The experiment was laid out incompletely Randomized design (CRD) in three replications. The insect pests were reared at laboratory condition before introducing into each treatment to obtain the same age group. Maize grain was disinfected to eliminate undiserable field infestation in refrigerator at –20C before using for experimental purpose. The Treatments were 10%, 15%, 20% and 30% of coffee husk, 10%, 15%, 20% and 30% of saw dust, 10%, 15%, 20% and 30% of wood ash and 2% of Pirimiphos-methyl as standard check and untreated control. The efficacy of each treatment was evaluated with respect F1 progeny emergence of the pests, mean number of damaged kernels and germination percentage of maize kernels. Coffee husk and wood ash at all dosages were found to be effective in controlling S. zeamais and S. cerealella. Wood ash at all proportions gave the best control of the pests during the study period. Wood ash and coffee husk at higher rates were more effective in controlling the pests. Sawdust at all dosages was not different from the untreated control in controlling S. zeamais. However, sawdust at some dosages showed superior performance against S. cerealella