Evaluation of efficiency of neem seed oil against Dermestes maculatus and Necrobia Rufipes in stored smoked fish; Clarias gariepinus

Abstract

: Laboratory experiment was conducted at Mohamet Lawan College of Agriculture, Maiduguri, Nigeria to evaluate the efficacy of neem seed oil in protecting dried Clarias fish; Clarias gariepinus against infestation by Dermestes maculatus and Necrobia rufipes. The experiment was laid out in a complete randomized design (CRD) with five treatments and untreated control replicated four times. In each block the dried fish C. gariepinus was assigned to the main plots while the botanical; neem seed oil (NSO) was assigned to the sub-plots. Neem seed oil was applied at various concentrations of 0ml (untreated control), 0.5 ml, 0. 7ml, 1.0 ml, 1.2 ml and 1.5 ml. The mortality of adult D. maculatus and adult N. rufipes at 7, 14 and 21 days after treatment were recorded and compared with the untreated control. All concentrations of neem seed oil used recorded higher mortality than the untreated control. However, there was significant difference between the mortality of adult D. maculatus and N. rufipes among the NSO at different concentrations and the control. Higher mortality rates of both study pests were recorded after applying higher doses of NSO at 21days post treatment. NSO concentration at 1.5ml caused significantly the highest mortality of adult D. maculatus and N. rufipes respectively and it is therefore recommended as a protectant on stored, dried fish; C. gariepinus.