Larvicidal and Insecticidal Activity of Herbal Formulation against Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

Abstract

Abstract The Mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, is commonly known as pink hibiscus mealybug which is a serious insect pest of many plants in tropical and subtropical regions. Tribolium castaneum is the major pest of wheat and rice. Also, a serious pest of cereal grains and their products. The efficacy of herbal extract from 13 medicinal plants (namely., Gloriosa superba, Vitex negundo, Ipomoea carnea, Annona squamosa, Calotropis gigantea, Pongamia pinnata, Jatropha curcas, Tinospora cordifolia, Terminalia billirica, Datura stramonium, Azadirachta indica, Capsicum annum, Allium sativum) was checked against Maconellicoccus hirsutus and Tribolium castaneum in vivo under the temperature of 25-270C and relative humidity of 60-70%. The herbal extracts at 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% concentrations were applied to check their insecticidal and larvicidal activity. The result of this experiment, reveals that the herbal extract may be effective against Maconellicoccus hirsitus and Tribolium castaneum and we can use it as an alternative to chemical pesticides.