Author(s):

Kathirvelu C, Mangayarkarasi S and Kulothungan K

Abstract: In the present study, certain plant species like Sweet basil, <em>Ocimum basilicum </em>L., Sweet flag rhizome, <em>Acorus calamus </em>L., Worm wood, <em>Artemisia vulgaris </em>L., Mint <em>Mentha piperita </em>L<em>.</em>, and Indian privet, <em>Vitex negundo </em>L. were tested for their insecticidal properties in the formulation of tablets in laboratory conditions against Rice weevil, <em>Sitophilus oryzae</em> (Linnaeus) and red flour beetle <em>Tribolium castaneum</em>, (Herbst). These plant materials were dried under shade and ground into powder and the tablet formulation was synthesised by mixing with rice gruel and carrier materials <em>viz</em>. chalk powder (CP), kitchen ash (KA) and fly ash (FA). Among the combinations of tablets formulated and tested against the <em>S. oryzae</em>, <em>O. basilicum</em> + CP performed better in causing maximum mean mortality of 43.88% which is closely followed by, <em>O. basilicum</em> + KA, <em>A. vulgaris</em> + FA and <em>A. vulgaris</em> + KA with 40.55% mortality each. The least percent mortality was observed with <em>A. calamus </em>+ KA, which caused 17.22%. The results shown that a maximum mean mortality of <em>T. castaneum </em>was witnessed in <em>A. vulgaris </em>+ CP and <em>A. calamus </em>+ FA caused 28.88%, followed by <em>O. basilicum</em> + KA (27.22%). The least percent mortality was found in treatments of <em>M. piperita</em> + FA caused 19.44%. The results of the weight loss by <em>S. oryzae</em> was noticed less in the grains treated with <em>A. vulgaris </em>+ KA combination, which caused 10.67% loss, followed by <em>O. basilicum +</em> CP with 11.33% and <em>A. vulgaris </em>+ CP and <em>V. negundo + </em>CP with 11.66% each. The results of the weight loss by <em>T. castaneum</em> was obtained less in the treatment with the tablets formulated using <em>A. vulgaris</em> + CP (11.66%) followed by <em>A. vulganis</em> + FA with 13.00% of weight loss, whereas the treatment <em>A. calamus </em>+ FA evidenced with 24.66%. Hence, the selected plant materials and carriers formulated as tablets are recommended for the small scale storage of stored products safely from weevil and beetles.

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