ARCHIVES
VOL. 11, ISSUE 4 (2026)
Phytochemical analysis and biopesticidal activity of selected indigenous plant powders against the red flour beetle - Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)
Authors
Dwipsikha Das Bairagi, Sagata Mondal
Abstract
Agriculture in India has been around since the beginning of civilization. The agricultural sector acts as the bedrock of the Indian economy with 46 percent of the work force engaged in this sector. As one of the major cereals, spice, and fruit producing nations of the world, the agriculture sector ensures food security of the country and supplies raw material to agro based industries. Tribolium castaneum is one of the major pests of stored grains. The present investigations were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of botanicals: Custard Apple (Annona squamosa L.), Banyan (Ficus benghalensis L.), Night-flowering jasmine (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.) and Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinesis L.) leaf powder and Amla (Phyllanthus emblica L.) powder, on percent mortality and weight loss. The research was carried out at Department of Zoology, Vidyasagar College, Kolkata, West Bengal in 2025-26. The experiment was conducted in doses of 0.5gm, 1gm, 1.5gm, 2gm, 2.5gm & 3gm at 7,14,21 and 28 days of exposure. In the research, it was concluded that Nyctanthes arbor-tristis leaf powder has the most effective treatment (86.67%), whereas, Phyllanthus emblica and Ficus benghalensis both powder (75.53%) was the least effective in comparison to control against adult mortality owing to T. castaneum. Similarly, the most effective treatment for weight loss of wheat grains is that Nyctanthes arbor-tristis that recorded minimum weight loss (0.43%) and least effective treatment that recorded more weight loss is Ficus benghalensis (0.91%). So, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis powder could be used safely for controlling Tribolium castaneum. Hibiscus rosa-sinesis powder also had a significant insecticidal activity. Hence due to being eco-friendly, cheap and easy availability of these plants, their powders can be the promising substitutes of chemical insecticides in pest management programs.
Download
Pages:21-27
How to cite this article:
Dwipsikha Das Bairagi, Sagata Mondal "Phytochemical analysis and biopesticidal activity of selected indigenous plant powders against the red flour beetle - Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 11, Issue 4, 2026, Pages 21-27
Pdf, Certificate, Cover Page, Index Page, Editorial Page, Accept Letter
Please enter the email address corresponding to this article submission.

