INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)
ISSN No. 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS | Volume IX Issue XI November 2025
organisms and the broader ecosystem [6]; and third, the accrual of harmful residues that pose significant risks
to human health, including carcinogenicity, endocrine disruption, and neurotoxicity [7]. For resource-
constrained smallholder farmers, the cost, availability, and requisite knowledge for the safe handling of these
chemicals present additional, often insurmountable, barriers. This confluence of factors has catalyzed an urgent
and global search for effective, biodegradable, economically viable, and environmentally benign alternative
pest management strategies.
Research Objectives
The aim of this research was to conduct a comparative evaluation of the insecticidal potency of olive oil and
chilli pepper powder against C. maculatus in stored cowpea. The specific objectives were:
1. To determine the contact toxicity and calculate the median lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC90) of
different concentrations of olive oil and chilli pepper powder against adult C. maculatus.
2. To perform a qualitative phytochemical analysis of both test botanicals to identify and compare their
constituent bioactive compounds.
3. To statistically compare the insecticidal efficacy of olive oil and chilli pepper powder and correlate their
phytochemical profiles with observed mortality.
4. To assess and discuss the practical implications of these findings for developing integrated pest
management (IPM) protocols for small-scale grain storage in Nigeria and similar regions.
LITERATURE REVIEW
The Target Pest: Callosobruchus Maculatus
Callosobrochus maculatus is arguably the most devastating post-harvest pest of cowpea across the tropical and
subtropical world. Its remarkable reproductive potential, with a generation time of approximately 3-4 weeks
under optimal conditions, allows for exponential population growth within a single storage season [2]. The
damage is twofold: direct consumption by larvae leads to substantial weight loss (often exceeding 30-40%),
while the physical perforation of seeds facilitates the entry of secondary pests and pathogenic microorganisms,
further accelerating spoilage [8]. Perhaps most critically, infestation destroys the seed's embryo, nullifying its
germination capacity and thus its value as a subsequent planting material, thereby perpetuating a cycle of
agricultural vulnerability [4]. The cryptic life history of the insect, residing protected inside the seed for the
majority of its development, renders it particularly recalcitrant to control via surface-applied insecticides,
necessitating agents with fumigant, repellent, or oviposition-deterrent properties, or those capable of
penetrating the seed coat.
Botanical Pesticides: A Renaissance in Pest Management
Botanical pesticides, derived from plant materials, represent a return to ancient pest control practices, now
underpinned by modern scientific validation. Their modes of action are diverse and often synergistic,
encompassing contact toxicity, antifeedancy, repellency, growth inhibition, chemosterilization, and oviposition
deterrence [9]. This multi-target mechanism significantly reduces the likelihood of rapid resistance
development compared to single-mode synthetic chemicals [10]. Plant essential oils and fixed oils, such as
olive oil, have garnered significant attention. Their activity is frequently attributed to a dual mechanism: a
physical action, where the oil film blocks the spiracles of insects, causing death by asphyxiation, and a
biochemical action, mediated by a complex mixture of terpenoids, phenolics, and aliphatic compounds that
interfere with neurological and physiological processes [11]. Conversely, chilli pepper (Capsicum spp.) derives
its potent bioactivity primarily from a group of compounds known as capsaicinoids, with capsaicin being the
most prominent. Capsaicin is a powerful neurotoxin to insects, acting as an irritant and repellent by targeting
specific sensory neurons [12]. The exploration of such locally available and culturally accepted botanicals
offers a promising pathway toward sustainable and self-reliant pest management.
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