Control of Insect Pests of Stored Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Using Botanical Pesticides

Abstract

Wheat grains as one of the world’s most nutritious crops are threatened by several insect pests damaging their quality thereby imparting economic losses worth millions of dollars annually. Strategies have been devised to protect the stored grains from insect pests’ attacks. One of the most widely used control measures was the application of synthetic chemical insecticides that posed negative consequences ranging from toxicity to non-target organisms (man inclusive), expensive and non-biodegradable. Botanical pesticides have proved more effective alternatives as they are specific in action, cheaper and eco-friendly. This chapter, therefore, reviewed and analysed different methods employed in controlling insect pests of stored wheat grains giving more emphasis to botanicals.