A method and composition is provided to control insect pests using pea extracts. Pea extracts, protein-rich, fibre-rich and starch- rich fractions were tested for toxicity against various grain storage pests. The pea protein-rich extract was found to be toxic against the lesser grain borer, red flour beetle, rice weevil, maize weevil, granary weevil and the rusty grain beetle. The pea protein-rich extract also reduced the number of offspring of all insects tested. The protein-rich fraction was also found to be effective against the bertha army worm, diamondback, grasshopper, Indian meal moth and flea beetle. A partially purified active extract from the protein-rich fraction has been identified, using ion-exchange chromatography, reversed-phase chromatography, adsorption chromatography and gel filtration. However, the active ingredient within this fraction is not a protein with a molecular weight above 4,000 daltons, nor is it a protease inhibitor, lectin or soyasaponin I.
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