Effects of Some Plant Extracts on Larval and Adults of Tribolium confusum Jacquelin Du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Abstract

In this study, suspensions of three different (10, 15, and 20 w/w) concentrations of hot and cold water extracts obtained from Nigella sativa and Lavandula angustifolia plants were used to control adult and larval of Confused flour beetle (Tribolium confusum duVal.) which is an important storage pest. To ascertain the insecticidal activity of plant extracts, fumigant effect studies were conducted. The study also examined the effect of extract solutions on the hatching rate of T. confusum adults in the subsequent generation. All trials used a randomized plot design and consisted of four replications, each with ten larvae and ten adults. The experiment was carried out in a completely dark incubator set at a temperature of 27±2°C and a relative humidity 65±5%. The study was conducted over 13 days, two days apart; dead individuals were recorded, percent mortality was calculated, and averages were compared using the Tukey test. All plant extracts tested were statistically significantly different from the control group (P=0.000). On the 13th day of experiments, the mortality rates ranged from 5.71 to 62.86% and 75.68 to 91.43% in the case of applying L. angustifolia extracts, whereas these values were 30.93 to 89.69%, and 26.47 to 89.47% in the case of applying N. sativa extracts for adults and larvae, respectively. In general, plant extracts had a greater fumigant effect on larvae than on the adults of the pest. After analyzing the F1 progeny count from the adult pest study, it was determined that N. Sativa extracts were more effective than L. angustifolia extracts at reducing fertility. The study discovered a 100% reduction in the pest's new generation offspring at a 20% concentration of N. sativa hot and cold water extract. These findings indicated that N. sativa extracts could effectively combat the T. confusum pest.