INFLUENCE OF ASH ON THE MORTALITY OF ADULTS OF BRUCHIDIUS ATROLINEATUS PIC. (COLEOPTERA-BRUCHINAE), IMPORTANT PEST OF COWPEA (VIGNA UNGUICULATA WALP.) IN SAHELIAN ZONE

Bruchidius atrolineatus (pic) (Ba) is one of the most dangerous pests seeds of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp). The infestation begins in the fields of crops and continues in stocks where damage can be considerable in the absence of any protective measure. The importance of these damage justifies the development of appropriate, less expensive and easily applicable peasant struggles. A recommended ash test for the traditional cowpea storage was evaluated on the mortality of Bruchidius atrolineatus (PIC) in the laboratory. During this study, several experiments relating to the influence of Ash on adults of B. atrolineatus were carried out. A negative witness has been made for each case. The treatments have been made according to gender and adults. Ash is a substance that seems to be very effective with respect to B. atrolineatus because has significantly reduced its population. Treatment due to the effect of ash has recorded a mortality rate of 85% on the first day. Then treatments with variations due to the increase in the amount of ash, insects and seeds have induced a respective mortality rate of 31.5%, 43.5%, 93.75% and 100% 62.5%, 33.16%, 30%, 24% and 17.04% and 62.5%, 43.75%, 52.5% and 50% on the 1st after treatment. It is apparent from our study that the female seems to be more resistant than males in almost all treatments. This study showed that the ash could constitute an alternative to the use of chemical insecticides in the conservation of cowpea seeds in the Sahelian zone.