¹Awassa Agricultural Research Center, P.O.Box 06, Awassa, Ethiopia

²Biology Department, Science Faculty, Addis Ababa University, P.O.Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

³Alemaya Univeristy, P.O.Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: meselegemu@yahoo.com. Tel: 251-046-2202034/251-046-2202050. Fax: 251-046-2204521/251-046-2200084.

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Locally available agricultural wastes including sawdust, coffee husk and wood ash were evaluated at different proportions against Sitophilus zeamais and Sitotrog cerealella in 2002 in Awassa National Maize Project entomology laboratory. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design (CRD) in three replications. The insect pests were reared at laboratory condition before introducing into each treatment to obtain the same age group. Maize grain was disinfected to eliminate undiserable field infestation in refrigerator at –2°C before using for experimental purpose. The treatments were 10% (w/w), 15% (w/w), 20% (w/w) and 30% (w/w) of coffee husk, 10% (w/w), 15% (w/w), 20% (w/w) and 30% (w/w) of saw dust, 10%(w/w), 15% (w/w), 20% (w/w) and 30% (w/w) of wood ash and 2% (w/w) of Pirimiphos-methyl as standard check and untreated control. The efficacy of each treatment was evaluated with respect to F1 progeny emergence of the pests, mean number of damaged kernels and germination percentage of maize kernels. Coffee husk and wood ash at all dosages were found to be effective in controlling S. zeamais and S. cerealella. Wood ash in all proportions gave the best control of the pests during the study period. Wood ash and coffee husk at higher rates were more effective in controlling the pests. Sawdust at all dosages was not different from the untreated control in controlling S. zeamais. However, sawdust at some dosages showed superior performance against S. cerealella.

Keywords: Agricultural waste, coffee husk, Sitotroga cerealella, Sitophilus zeamais.