Insecticidal and Antifeedant effect of medicinal plant extracts against Red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum

Tribolium castaneum commonly called Red flour beetle is a widely distributed stored grain pest. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of five medicinal plant extracts against T. castaneum under laboratory conditions. Five doses in five replications for each of the plant powder were prepared by mixing them with flour inside plastic jars. Ten pairs of adult beetles were placed inside each jar and mortality was recorded. Feeding deterrent index (FDI) was calculated. At the 4th day (96 hours after treatment) maximum mortality is seen in case Murraya koenigii followed by Mentha spicata, Justicia adhatoda, Centella asiatica, Hygrophila polysperma. The ANOVA result revealed that the ethanol extract of Murraya koenigiii is the most toxic against the pest in comparison to other plant extracts.