EFFECT OF WHEAT GRAINS TREATMENT WITH DILL, ANETHUM GRAVEOLENS AND PARSLEY, APIUM SATIVUM SEED POWDERS ON THE POPULATION OF THE RICE WEEVIL, S1TOPHILUS ORYZAE

Experiments were conducted in the laboratory at 26 ± 1°C and 65 5% R. H. to study the effect of adding 0.8, 0.4. and 0.2% dill. Ane­thum graveolens or parsely. Apium sativum powders to the wheat grains on the mortality and population growth of Sitophilus oryzae (L.). Mortali­ty results recorded during the first two weeks period of exposure are concentration and time dependent. Meanwhile average mortality values of the period from the first to the third month of treatment, revealed that addition of Apium sativum powder to the food of S. oryzae, obviously increased adult mortalities at all concentrations compared with dill powder. However S. oryzae was susceptible to the dill powder at high concentration, 0.8% than 0.4 and 0.2%, but the Apium sativum powder was more eft ectiv against S. ory­zae. Results concerning addition of the seeds powder of dill and parsely to the diet at 0.8. 0.4. and 0.2% concentrations snowed also marked de­cline in the adult populations during the first period of rearing of S. ory­zae compared with untreated. The rate of growth of S. oryzae was small­er in the media at the two high concentrations of the plant powders than the other media. At the same time. Apium sahvum seed powder gave satisfactory protection to wheat grains against this insect species up to 6 months.