Efficacy of aqueous extract of curry leaf Murraya koenigii (L.) against red rust flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst)

Agricultural produce suffers losses due to damage by storage pests and finding ecofriendly measures to counter this is necessary. Present study evaluates the effects of aqueous extract of leaves of the curry leaf Murraya koenigii (L.) (Rutaceae) against storage pest, the red rust flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Tenebrionidae: Coleoptera). The extract was observed to contain catechins and glycosides in addition to alkaloids and phenolic compounds, the tannins and saponins,. The extract has insecticidal and larvicidal effects. The rate of repellency was observed to be concentration dependent. The results reveal the curry leaf extract can be used to repel storage pests.