The methanol extract from leaves of Saraca indica was investigated to control insect infestation of stored food commodities viz. maize, rice, cowpea and wheat flour during from Ostrinia nubilalis, Spodoptera littoralis, Callosobruchus maculates and Tribolium confusum. After introducing the test insects, stored food samples were fumigated with methanol extract from leaves of Saraca indica at 500 μg/mL (ppm). The methanol extract significantly enhanced feeding deterrence in insects and reduced the grain damage as well as weight loss in fumigated food samples infested with all insects. The methanol extract at different doses significantly reduced oviposition and adult emergence of these insect pests. Regression analysis of data on individuals in treated food samples confirmed that significant reduction of oviposition and adult emergence of insect pests decreased with increase in doses. All the four insect pests caused minimum damage to food commodities when fumigated with methanol extract of leaves of Saraca indica. The methanol leaf extract of Saraca indica exhibited as botanical fumigant in protection of stored maize, rice, cowpea and wheat by enhancing feeding deterrence and reducing grain damage as well as weight loss of Ostrinus nubilalsis, Spodoptera littoralis, Callosobruchus maculatus and Tribolium confusum. The ovicidal activity of the methanol extract of leaves of Saraca indica against four insect pests reveals that no hatching of larvae were observed till 24 hours. Hatching of larvae were observed from 24 hours to 72 hours. No further hatching was recorded after 72 hour of treatment. Therefore LC50 value of ovicidal activity was recorded at 72 hour of exposure period. At 10 ppm and after 72 hours of incubation O. nibilalsis, S. littoralis, C. maculatus and T. confusum the hatching percentage was 80.75%, 78.51%, 76.25% and 78.85% respectively. The hatching of larvae showed a decreasing trend on increasing the concentration of methanol extract of Saraca indica. At 1000ppm concentration of leaf extract and after 72 hrs of incubation the hatching percentage of O. nibilalsis, S. littoralis, C. maculatus and T. confusum was 26.15%, 21.16%, 22.18% and 24.15% respectively. The larvicidal activity of methanol extract of leaves of Saraca indica against four insect pests viz. Ostrinus nubilalsis, Spodoptera littoralis, Callosobruchus maculatus and Tribolium confusum was found to be directly related to the exposure time and concentration of the methanol extract.

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