Insecticidal evaluation of various plant extracts against the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae); A major stored grains insect pest

The store grain pest, T. Castaneum, presents a significant threat to global food security and storage practices within stored grain ecosystems, necessitating effective pest control measures. The present study demonstrates the potent bioactivity of various aqueous plant extracts, such as Neem, Clove, Coriander, Mint, Garlic, and Black Pepper, in preventing and reducing the mortality of red flour beetles at different concentrations and exposure durations. Laboratory experiments revealed that Azadirachta indica; Neem, Syzygium aromaticum; Clove, Coriandrum sativum; Coriander, Mentha spicata; Mint, Allium sativum; Garlic, and Piper nigrum; Black Pepper, applied at different concentrations and exposure periods against red flour beetles. Laboratory experiments revealed that A. indica, P. nigrum, and M. spicata extracts, particularly at higher concentrations and longer exposure times, caused significant repellency and mortality in T. castaneum. A. indica exhibited the highest mean repellency (up to 100%) and less mortality (up to 9.37%) after 7 days at varying concentrations. Our findings showcase the efficacy of these plant extracts as ecofriendly alternatives for managing red flour beetles, offering a promising solution to mitigate storage losses and enhance global food security within stored grain ecosystems. The potential application of these natural extracts holds great promise in addressing the challenges posed by this persistent insect pest.