International Journal of Entomology Research

Authors
Kanwal Shahzadi, Farwa Bashir, Kiaenat Nazir, Safora Seemab, Muhammad Afsar Ali Shaker, Irum Waheed, Asad Shehzaib, Kainat Fatima

Abstract
Synthetic insecticides have been mainly used for the control of stored products insect pests. But have now becoming limited due to many drawbacks. Nano sciences and nanotechnology are the study of extremely small things at nm scale. The present study was carried at Chemistry Laboratory, Punjab Bioenergy Institute, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. Tribolium castaneum were collected from grain market, located in Faisalabad and population of insect was acclimatized to the laboratory. After extraction of plant materials (oils from Ricinus communis and Citrus paradise) biosynthesis of nano-particles was done accordingly to standard procedure. Toxicity bioassays was done by three concentrations (5, 10 and 15 %) of the plant oils (for each of the simple plant oil) and 100, 200 and 300 ppm (for nano-particles) were used. Data regarding mortality was recorded after 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours of the treatment application. In case of plant oil, highest mortality (36.12%) was recorded by R. communis at 15% and after exposure period of 96 (hr.) while R. communis silver nanoparticle gave 41.40% at 300 ppm. Repellency bioassay was done by area preference method. Silver nanoparticles repellency highest range was 67.89% at 15% concentration of R. communis and lowest was 28.31% at same concentration of the C. paradise oils, used. Hence, plant based insecticides can be helpful for the management of stored commodities insect pests.