Impact of Different Plant Products on Infestation of Rust Red Flour Beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) on Stored Wheat

The study aims to assess the impact of different plant products on infestation of rust red flour beetle on stored wheat. The results indicate that the relative efficacy of plant products was assessed by mixing the grains with different plant products. Bio efficacy was measured based on adult mortality, adult emergence and per cent weight loss. In case of adult mortality among the all treatments after seven days of storage the maximum adult mortality of T. castaneum was found in eucalyptus leaf powder treated grains followed by meetha neem, lemmongrass, and karanj, which was at par with the eucalyptus leaf powder. Least adult mortality was found in lantana leaf powder treated grains. It was followed by neem, turmeric, custard apple, and ginger. While no adult mortality was found in untreated control, it was revealed that all treatments were superior to untreated control. After 14 days of storage again, eucalyptus leaf powder was the best treatment than rest of the treatments. Minimum mortality of T. castaneum was found incustard apple leaf powder treated grains. After 21 days of storage of wheat grains maximum adult mortality of T. castaneum was recorded in eucalyptus leaf powder and minimum adult mortality in custard apple treatment. After 30 days of storage the order of efficacy of plant products with respect to adult mortality of T. castaneum was eucalyptus > ginger > lemmongrass > turmeric > neem > karanj > lantana > meetha neem > custard apple. After a storage period of 30 days per cent weight loss due to infestation of T. castaneum ranged from 0.08 to 0.47 per cent. In untreated control per cent weight loss was maximum followed by lantana, turmeric, neem, custard apple, karanj, and lemmon grass. While minimum weight loss was recorded in eucalyptus leaf powder treated grains, followed by ginger and meetha neem. All the treatments were superior to untreated control.