Insecticidal Activities of Fruit Peel Extracts of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) against the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum

Abstract

Aqueous, ethanol and methanol fruit peel extracts of Punica granatum were tested under laboratory conditions for their insecticidal activities against larvae and adults of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. The beetles were exposed to the different extracts by topical application and ingestion treatment. Highest mortalities were recorded on larvae treated with ethanol extract with mortalities of 72 and 56% for topical application and ingestion treatment respectively. The three extracts exhibited anti-feeding effects (70% > AFI ≥ 50%) against T. castaneum larvae whereas only methanol extract exhibited a low anti-feeding activity (50% > AFI ≥ 20%) against adults. Additionally, only ethanol extract showed repellent activity. Results suggested the presence of toxic active components in the ethanol fruit peel extract acting by mainly ingestion and topical application. The treatment with this botanical insecticide may be promising in protecting stored grains from coleopteran pest infections.

Keywords

• Fruit peel extracts
• insecticidal activity
• method of treatment
• Punica granatum
• Tribolium castaneum