Sitophilus oryzae-rice weevil is an agricultural pest that causes substantial damage to stored grains. It has been observed that the use of chemical insecticides poses the greatest risk to human health. For Integrated Insect Pest Management, natural chemicals with biological origins are becoming a viable alternative to synthetic insecticides. One of the plants with many flavonoids and phenolic chemicals capable of protecting grain is Cymbopogon citrates (L.) Corr. (Rutaceae). The present study was an attempt to investigate the capacity of C. citrates leaves to protect stored wheat from infestation by the rice weevil. The most important and astonishing observation noted was that C. citrates leaves were found to be more effective and efficient in repelling S. oryzae at the lower concentrations while it was found to be attracting S. oryzae at the higher concenterations and thus showed less grain damage and wt. Loss at lower concentrations.
Integrated Pest Management, Grain protectant, Biological origin, Grain damage, Weight loss
