COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE TOXICITY OF OILS FROM SEEDS OF Citrullus colocynthis AND Citrullus vulgaris ON LARVAE OF Dermestes Maculatus

Abstract

Study was carried out in the Fisheries Research Laboratory, Ahmadu Bello University to evaluate the effect of Citrullus colocynthis (Eguisi) and Citrullus vulgaris (Watermelon) seed oils on the larvae of Dermestes maculatus, an important pest of smoke-dried Clarias gariepinus (African catfish). The effect of the oils at different tested concentrations against the larvae of D. maculatus was dose dependent as 3.33% and 81.11% mortality for C. colocynthis while 2.22% and 91.11% for C. vulgaris were recorded for 0.027 mLg-1and 0.081mlg-1respectively at 96 hours' exposure time. The interaction effect of 0.081mlg-1 watermelon seed oil and 96h exposure gave the highest kill compared to eguisi seed oil at the same concentration and time which was significantly (p