Insecticidal activity of meliaceous plants on Diabrotica speciosa (Col., Chrysomelidae).

Diabrotica speciosa is a polyphagous insect-pest and its control demands a great deal of insecticides applications. The use of extracts from Meliaceae family plants, with insecticidal activity, appears as a promising control alternative. The present work aimed to evaluate the control action of aqueous extract from Melia azedarach var. azedarach (chinaberry) - unripe fruits, petioles with stalk, leaflets and barks - at 10% (p/v) each one, compared with NIM-I-GO at 10mL L-1 (emulsified commercial oil of neem) and DECIS 25CE at 0.3mL L-1, as a standard treatment, over adult insects of D. speciosa on cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and string beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) cultivated in greenhouse. It was evaluated as well the height of plants, after the beginning of the harvest, and the production. Extracts of unripe fruits, leaflets and petioles with stalk of chinaberry are flattering in the control of D. speciosa in cultures of cucumber, and only unripe fruits in string beans. Therefore, these extracts can be used as alternatives in control of this chrysomelid. The use of these extracts did not result in significant change in stature and