author(s)
Uzair Ahmad, Unab Begum and Zafar Mehmood Khattak

abstract
Comparative efficacy of two botanical extracts viz. Melia azedarach, Polygonum hydropiper, an insecticide Chlorpyrifos and a control check was studied under laboratory conditions. The main goal of the study was to examine the susceptibility in various populations of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) to dissimilar insecticides. The adult stage of Tribolium castaneum was tested. The bioassays were conducted by offering treated wheat flour pellets in glass vials of 2cm in diameter. The mortality data were recorded for 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after providing food to the test insect. Food consumption data was recorded at the end of the experiment. Results regarding T. castaneum mortality rate in Polygonum hydropiper revealed 32%, Melia azedarach 37%, Chlorpyrifos 100% while in control check, it revealed 12%. While results regarding T. castaneum food consumption in Polygonum hydropiper revealed 0.4g, Melia azedarach 0.2g, Chlorpyrifos 0.1g while in control check it revealed 01g. Chlorpyrifos was found the most toxic among the tested chemicals. Both botanical extracts exerted much lesser mortality as compared to Chlorpyrifos but significantly affected the diet consumption rate. The control check also had a minor effect on adults of the T. castaneum although it was prepared from the distilled water.