INSECT PEST MANAGEMENT USING MEDICINAL PLANT EXTRACTS

A wide range of insect pests attacks food grains; most common among them are beetles and moths. The most commonly known is confused flour beetle, because of it being confused for a long time with its closely allied species Trogoderma castaneum, T. confusum is a cosmopolitan pest of cereal and their product. Evaluation of traditional plant extracts, viz. Mentha spicala, Ocimum americanum, O. gratissimum and Azadirachta indica as biopesticide were sprayed (@) 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5ml/ 50g grain against development of T. confilsum in rice. The survival percentage of the larvae of beetle is reduced significantly in the grain treated with M. spicata followed by O. .americanum, A. indica and O. gratissimilm. The extracts of test plants in 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5ml dose in 50g grains prolonged the development from 5 to 14 days on an average. The toxic effect of plant extract is being studied on the life cycle, growth & mortality of beetle.