Management of Tribolium castaneum (Hbst.) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) using Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) and Tumha (Citrullus colocynthis (L.)).

Abstract

Studies were conducted in the Grain Research Training and Storage Management Cell, Department of Agri-Entomology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during 2006-07 to evaluate the effect of different doses (2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10%) of Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) seed extract and Tumha (Citrullus colocynthis L.) fruit ethanol extracts on Tribolium castaneum. The effect of neem seed extract at tested concentrations against the test insect was dose dependent; as the 64.44%, 55.92%, 47.77% and 35.93% mortality recorded at 10%, 7.5%, 5% and 2.5% concentrations, respectively. The interaction effect of 10% neem seed extract and 72 h exposure gave 73.33% kill, which was significantly (P=0.05)more than the percent kill of the other concentrations and exposure time. Similarly, the C. colocynthis at 10% killed 44.07% T. castaneum which was significantly (P=0.05) more than the control and other concentrations of the same extract used in the experiment. The exposure of T. castaneum to the media treated with C. colocynthis for 72 h has a signifant effect on its mortality. The interaction effect of 10% Citrullus colocynthis extract at 72 h exposure gave 50% kill, which was significantly more than the other concentrations and time of exposure. The insecticidal effect of these chemicals on the population build up of T. casteneum was dose and exposure time dependent.