Pest management in most sub-Saharan subsistence agriculture involves mainly the use of botanicals that are either applied as powders, solvent extracts, ash or essential oils. Two hydrogenated monoterpenes (α-pinene and 3-carene) from Cupressus sempervirens were tested against Sitophilus zeamais in the laboratory to evaluate the contact and fumigation effects on the mortality of adult and immature weevils, progeny production, and grain damage. Contact toxicity of the terpenes was investigated at these concentrations: 0.08, 4, 8 and 12 ppm (terpene/maize), while fumigant action was studied at the following doses: 1, 2, 3, and 4 ppm. The results indicate that insecticidal effects were concentration-dependent since mortality increased with dosage and exposure periods. After a 14-day exposure period at the concentration of 12 ppm of α-pinene and 3-carene/grain, more than 98% mortality of the mature weevils was observed at concentrations of 4.1333 and 1.642 ppm respectively and progeny production was reduced by 98% and 100%, respectively. When α-pinene and 3-carene were applied as fumigants, LC_50s (lethal concentrations that generate 50% mortality) of 1.402 and 0.610 ppm were obtained after 24 h of exposure, respectively. At concentrations above 3 ppm, both monoterpenes acted as repellents to weevils and reduced grain damage by 80%. Both monoterpenes inhibited the development of immature stages of the weevil and reduced progeny by up to 94%. These compounds are very promising and effective and could be exploited as novel phytoinsecticides against the maize weevil.

Bafanji village harbors a plethora of plants used in the treatment of several ailments. Alarmingly, traditional knowledge is quickly declining due to inadequate documentation and limited cross-generational transfer of knowledge. In this study indigenous medicinal plans were documented for their use, management and the threats affecting them. The study was carried out in Bafanji village between August 2015 and March 2016. Semi-structured questionnaires, interviews and field trips were used for data collection. Sample specimens were collected and identified. This study revealed that 6.06% of the population relied solely on medicinal plants for their health care while 15.14% do not use medicinal plants directly and 78.8% rely on both modern and traditional medicine for the treatment of their ailments. 92 plant species belonging to 51 families and 83 genera were documented. Family Asteraceae was the most represented (14.1%). More than one plant species is used to treat various ailments with the highest number of species (19) for malaria. Among the medicinal plant species recorded from the study area, the majority (55.4%) which were mainly herbs (70.7%) were collected from the wild. The leaves were the most commonly used plant part (44.5%). The principal method of remedy preparation was reported to be decoction. Oral administration was the most preferred mode. Knowledge of the use of plants as medicines was found to be confined to traditional healers and older folk. Documenting the eroding indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants and spurring youths to acquire traditional medicinal knowledge is recommended.