Solasodine phytocompound controlled the food pest Tribolium castaneum growth

Chemical and non-chemical methods are widely employed for managing storage food pest red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. This study validated the solasodine effect on the larval growth and other life cycle intermediates of the flour beetle. The target organism was reared on mixed flour of wheat and jowar and treated with different concentrations of solasodine preparations on the fifth instar larvae. The survival rate of the treated organism was statistically evaluated. The concentration of 0.25 ug/mL solasodine and above significantly inhibited the larval growth and produced deformed mosaics, pupae, and adults. Unlike synthetic chemical pesticides, solasodine that was reported to contribute to health benefits in humans controlled the Tribolium castaneum growth in reared media.