ABSTRACT

 Studies were conducted on the efficacy of ethanolic and water extracts as well as the ashes ofthe plant parts ofJatropha curcas (L.) and Azadirachta indica (A. Juss) for the control of Anobium punctatum ( De Geer)infestations on boards of Alstonia boonei (De Wild)at the wood workshop of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. The studies utilized a completely randomized block design with three replications for each of the ash incorporated and seed incorporated experiments respectively. Data were collected weekly for each quarter till one year after application (1 YAA) of the treatments to compare the efficacy of the two plant species as well as determine the medium that offered the best preservation effect over time. Result shows that among the plant parts of Jatropha curcas and Azadirachta indica tested, Jatropha Seed, Jatropha Bark, Neem Leaf and Neem Bark were the most effective in controlling the number of boards ofAlstonia boonei attacked as well as the number of gallery activities of the insect pest. The least number of pest infestation occurred with ashes ofNeem Leaf with mean of 4.07 and 29.52 respectively for number of boards attacked and number of galleries on boards for ash incorporated experiment and 4.42 and 32.19 respectively for seed incorporated experiment followed by ashes of Neem Bark. All the plant extracts reduced significantly(P>/0.05) the activities of the beetle than the control, which had the highest number of boards of Alstonia boonei attacked as well as the highest number of galleries on boards. Ash treatment however performed better than the other extracts in their effect in reducing the activities ofthe pest. In spite of the fact that most botanicals are comparatively less potent and slower in action than synthetic pesticides, the health hazards associated with synthetics have endangered the environment favourable for biopesticides. Therefore this study has shown the efficiency of plant extracts from Azadirachta indica and Jatropha curcas in controlling Anobium punctatum devastion on stored logs ofAlstonia boonei.