Abstract

Laboratory experiment was conducted to evaluate the insecticidal activity of Calotropis gigantea R.Br. plant part powders against red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) on groundnut. The C. gigantea plant parts such as leaf, flower, root and stem were collected, shade dried and made in to powder form. Insecticidal activity of milkweed plant was tested against the red flour beetle on 3, 5, 7 and 9 days after treatment. The results revealed that C. gigantea whole plant powder treatment was found to be very effective causing maximum mortality at 10g dosage. Leaf, flower, stem and root powders followed the whole plant powder treatment respectively.

Keywords: Milkweed plant, plant part powder, red flour beetle, groundnut, mortality