EVALUATION OF APHANAMIXIS-POLYSTACHYA AS A SOURCE OF REPELLENTS, ANTIFEEDANTS, TOXICANTS AND PROTECTANTS IN STORAGE AGAINST TRIBOLIUM-CASTANEUM (HERBST)

Seed extracts of Aphanamixis polystachya Wall and Parker (pithraj) wer e evaluated for their repellent, antifeedant and contact toxicity to a dults of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). The crude seed extracts were st rong repellents and moderate feeding deterrents to T. castaneum. All e xtracts were toxic to beetles. The ethanol extract was the most toxic of four extracts tested and showed the lowest LD50 value. Ground leave s, barks and seeds were also tested for oviposition deterrency to T. c astaneum. The ground leaves, bark and seeds in a 2.5% mixture provided some protection for wheat flour by reducing F1 progeny.