Chocolate weed, Insects mortality, Leachate, Pulse beetle, Rice weevil, Storage pests, Weeds usage  

Insecticidal potential of whole plant leachate of chocolate weed (Melochia corchorifolia L.) on storage pests, viz. Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) and Sitophilus oryzae (L.) was assessed under laboratory conditions. Results revealed that whole plant leachate of M. corchorifolia had insecticidal action against C. maculatus and S. oryzae. Mortality rate of storage pests was found to be concentration dependent and the highest leachate concentration (15 %) resulted in significantly higher mortality rate. LC50 and LC 95  values  for the mortality of  rice weevils and pulse beetles after 48 h of treatment were 11.69, 15.50 mg/L and 32.89 and 43.45 mg/L, respectively. The result clearly indicated the presence of a toxicant or growth inhibitor principle in the whole plant leachate of M. corchorifolia. Identification and isolation of active ingredient in the whole plant leachate of M. corchorifolia will help to develop an eco-friendly biopesticide against C. maculatus and S. oryzae.