Bio-rational control of red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in stored wheat with Calneem® oil derived from neem seeds

Abstract

The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), is one of the most serious secondary pests that feeds on a wide range of durable stored products including cereals, cereal products and other high value produce such as cocoa beans and dried fruits. Toxicity and protectant potential of Calneem Ò oil derived from the seeds of the neem tree Azadirachta indica A. Juss. towards T. castaneum were evaluated in stored wheat in the laboratory using contact toxicity, grain treatment, persistency, progeny emergence and repellency assays. Calneem Ò contains about 0.3% azadirachtin as its major active ingredient. The Calneem Ò was applied at six dosages (0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0% v/v). The oil was emulsified with water using 0.07% soap. All dosages of Calneem Ò oil were toxic and highly repellent to T. castaneum with an overall repellency in the range of 52-88%. The highest dosage of 3.0% of Calneem Ò oil tested killed at least 90% of the beetles within 72 h on grain, and 88% mortality was obtained on filter paper. T. castaneum mortality was dose dependent.The development of eggs to adults on cracked wheat was significantly (P \ 0.05) inhibited by Calneem Ò oil treatments. The effectiveness of Calneem Ò oil was significantly reduced by the length of storage after application. The results obtained suggest good potential for the practical use of Calneem Ò oil as grain protectant for stored product pest control. The use of plant materials such as neem oil may be a safe, cost-effective method of grain preservation against pest infestation amongst low-resource poor farmers who store small amounts of grains.

Efficacy ofPlectranthus glandulosus(Lamiaceae) andCallistemon rigidus(Myrtaceae) Leaf Extract Fractions toCallosobruchus maculatus(Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

“…2007 ). Moreover, Calneem oil suppressed adult Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) on maize within 3 d of exposure ( Adarkwah et al. 2010 ).…”

Regulatory functions of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase in the chitin biosynthesis pathway in Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) revealed by RNA interference

“…Similar studies using RNAi have resulted in diverse malformed phenotypes in insects and show varying efficiencies in the insect tissues investigated (Zhu et al , 2008; Belles, 2010; Scott et al , 2013; Xi et al , 2015). The red flour beetle ( T. castaneum , Herbst 1797; Coleoptera) is a holometabolous insect with embryonic, larval, pupal, and adult stages, and is considered to be a serious pest of stored grains (Adarkwah et al , 2010). Several studies have revealed that RNAi in T. castaneum is efficient in maintaining the silencing effect for a longer period and inducing a higher rate of deformations (Chen et al , 2010 a ; Xi et al , 2015), even in the postembryonic stages (Tomoyasu & Denell, 2004; Arakane et al , 2005; Minakuchi et al , 2008, 2015).…”

Residual Efficacy of Novaluron Applied on Concrete, Metal, and Wood for the Control of Stored Product Coleopteran Pests

“…However, most of these treatments leave toxic residues, and their frequent use had led to the development of resistance in stored product insects to the most-used insecticides [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. In recent years, research has been conducted on non-chemical control methods, e.g., botanicals, pheromones, or hermetic storage [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ], as well as alternative chemical insecticides with low toxicity to mammals and humans [ 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Need remains, however, for further evaluation of methods to apply alternative reduced risk insecticides in ways that provide effective, nontoxic control of important stored-product insect pest.…”