Growth regulatory potential of five indigenous plant extracts against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Abstract

Plant based insecticides are effective control agents against the stored grain insect pests especially for Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) is one of the severe pests of stored grain commodities The botanicals are have no toxic effects on our surrounding but the bioactivities of these plant extracts may induce certain detrimental effects on the biology of the certain insects causing infestation in stored grains The toxic and growth disruptive effects extracts from five medicinal plants viz; Azadirachta indica, Murraya exotica, Eucalyptus comeldulensis, Trachspermum ammi and Teminalia chebula were evaluated at a rate of 5, 10 and 15 % concentrations against the Tribolium castaneum. Highest larval inhibition was observed in case of E. comeldulensis (72.32%), followed by A. indica (63.96%), T. ammi (62.90%), M. exotica (58.93%) and T. chebula (54.96%). Maximum pupal inhibition was observed in case of E. comeldulensis (70.21%), followed by A. indica (62.26%), M. exotica (55.19%), T. ammi and T. chebula were both equally effective (54.82%). Highest adults’ inhibition was observed in case of E. comeldulensis (66.67%), followed by A. indica (58.82%), M. exotica (54.90%), T. ammi (52.08%) and T. chebula (50.00%). These experiments will lead to the development of effective and natural growth regulators for control of insect pests attacking stored commodities.