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ABSTRACT
Fishes are often preserved by the process of drying, however drying of fish does not guarantee the end of the problem of fish spoilage, dried fishes are often attacked by insect pest thereby reducing their quality and also leading to the spoilage. In order to counter the problem of insect infestation, plant based materials are often employed or used. This study therefore was conducted to determine the toxicity and repellency of hide beetle (Dermestes maculatus) on Catfish (Clarias gariepinus), Bonga fish (Ethmalosa fimbriata) and Stock fish by the powder of nutmeg (Monodora myristica). In the experiment, adult stage of the pest were introduced into disinfested smoked Catfish, bonga fish and stock fish treated with nutmeg powder at dosages of 0.05g/g, 0.15g/g, 0.2g/g and 0.25g/g of a particular fish species.. In each of the three fish species the plant powder evoked significant (p>0.05) mortalities in the adult of the hide beetle at all dosage tested compared with the untreated (control). 100% mortality was recorded for all the fish species at the highest dose (0.256ml/g of fish) by the 168th hour of exposure. The plant powder also exhibited repellency against D. maculatus in all of the fish species. The percentage repellancy was observed to increase in a dose dependent manner. This study has revealed that Nutmeg powder (Monodora myristica) could offer effective protection against post-harvest pests of fish and therefore could be incorporated into post-harvest fish management strategies.
