Abstract
Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is one of the key insect pests of
stored grains. Due to export regulations and zero-tolerance for alive insects in trade commodities, synthetic
pesticides are often used to eliminate pest infestation in consignments. Phosphine is currently one and the
only acceptable chemical used in stored grains, but due to their overuse, stored grain pests become resistant to
this fumigant. There is, therefore, a great need to find alternatives. In this study insecticidal efficacy of different
plant extracts viz. Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and
Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) was compared against T. castaneum infesting stored wheat. The results have
suggested that mortality and repellency in T. castaneum increased as the dose rate of crude plant extracts
and exposure interval increased. The maximum mortality (86.67%) was achieved with the highest dose of
crude extract of Z. officinale (80mg per 7.5g wheat) at 10 days exposure interval. Similarly, the highest dose
of Z. officinale extract (80ml) was responsible to cause 100% repellency at 2 hours exposure interval. Results
also suggested that grain damage and grain weight loss due to the feeding of T. castaneum decreased as the
dose rate of crude plant extracts increased, while an increasing trend was found in these parameters with
the increase in exposure interval. The maximum grain damage and grain weight loss (10.27% and 0.346%,
respectively) were recorded at the lowest dose of A. indica crude extract at 10 days exposure interval. The result
of Feeding Deterrence Index suggested that it increased as the dose rate of crude plant extracts increased
while a decreased trend was found with the increase in exposure interval. The maximum feeding deterrence
index (86.48%) was recorded at the highest dose of Z. officinale crude extract at 5 days exposure interval. The
results of this study supported the use of Z. officinale to reduce the population of T. castaneum by its toxic and
repellent characteristics which ultimately improve the grain quality of stored wheat.
Bilal Atta, Muhammad Rizwan, Arshed Makhdoom Sabir, Muhammad Dildar Gogi, Muhammad Sabar, Bakhtawar, Faizan Ali, Mehran Sarwar. (2020) Toxic and Repellent Characteristics of Some Plant Extracts used against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Improve the Grain Quality of Stored Wheat, Journal of Innovative Sciences, Volume 6, Issue 1.
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