GROWTH REGULATORY EFFECT OF EXTRACTS OF AZADIRACHTA INDICA, CURCUMA LONGA, NIGELLA SATIVA AND PIPER NIGRUM ON DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF TROGODERMA GRANARIUM (EVERTS) (COLEOPTERA: DERMESTIDAE)

The extracts from four medicinal plants viz., azadirachta indica, curcuma longa, nigella sativa and piper nigrum were assessed at 5, 10, 15 and 20% concentration against khapra beetle, trogoderma granarium (everts) for their potential to protect stored-wheat grains in term of their toxicity and effect on progeny development. the highest mean mortality (14.36%) was observed in case of a. indica, whereas, the lowest mortality (6.78%) was found in p. nigrum after 30 days of treatment. pupation was highest (46.66%) in case of p. nigrum extract, while the lowest one (27.11%) in c. longa after sixty days of treatment. adult emergence was observed in descending order; p. nigrum > n. sativa > a. indica > c. longa whereas, the highest in control (71.39%).the highest f progeny was found in control 1 treatment, followed by n. sativa, p. nigrum, a. indica and c. longa, respectively. the extracts from these plants caused significant mortality of t. granarium, reduced its reproductive potential and deterred the larvae from feeding on wheat grains. therefore, these plant extracts can serve as the foundation for development of new botanical insecticides.