Effect of Custard Apple (Annona Squamosa L.) Extract on the Mortality of the Red-Flour-,Beetle, Tribolium Castaneum HBST

Abstract

The needs for evolution of pest management strategies basedon non-insecticidal chemicals having behavioural or physiological activity with insectistatic potential with or without selective insecticide deployment, has been recognized as an ecological imperative for well over a decade now. However, such chemicals are often highly specific, biodegradable, of low persistance, and their control potential is sophisticated and long-term. Although ecologically desirable, these very characteristics of noninsecticidal chemicals weigh against their economic feasibility and reduce their appeal to the primary users - the farmers. For this purpose an investigation has been carried out on the effect of chemicals extracted from the seed of custard apple, Annona sguamosa Linn.,. an insecticide-methacrifos and their combined doses on Tribolium castaneum strains local, CR-I, FSS-II and CTC 12. Custard apple seeds after drying extracted in four chemicals viz.,Petroleum Spirit, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol. Those four type of chemicals extracted from the seeds along withmethacrifos tested on the adult beetles for all the strains.The extracted materials also treated on the larvae. Again the low doses of extracted chemicals and insecticide were applied combindly on the adult!• castaneum to observe the synergistic effect.----