Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Adekunle Ajasin University, PMB 001, Akungba Akoko, Ondo, State, Nigeria

 The powder, wood ash and latex of Jatropha carcus and Jatropha gossypifolia were bioassayed for their insecticidal potential against cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus in the laboratory at ambient temperature and humidity. The plant wood ash, powder and latex were tested at rate 2g/20g of cowpea seeds. Adult mortality and adult emergence of the insect were investigated. Result showed that wood ash of J. carcus evoked 100% mortality of adult cowpea bruchid after 4 days of application. This is followed by powder of J. carcus which caused 92.5% mortality while powder of J. gossypifolia was the least effective that caused 90% mortality of adult bruchids. There was no adult emergence in seeds treated with wood ash and latex of both J. carcus and J. gossypifolia compared with untreated that had 81.1% adult emergence. The result obtained from this study revealed that J. carcus and J. gossypifolia wood ash and latex were effective in controlling C. maculatus and could serve as an alternative to synthetic insecticides for the protection of stored cowpea against cowpea bruchid for the poor resource farmers in developing countries.

Key words: Beetle Perforation Index, Latex, Oviposition, Food security, Progeny, Seed viability