Evaluation of the insecticidal potential of two medicinal plants and an entomopathogenic fungi against Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), a pest of stored foods

Stored products are among the most important foods in human nutrition. However; these products are under the pressure of many harmful organisms.One of these pests is Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). In this study, effects of two essential oils (Mentha rotundifolia and Satureja calamintha) and an enthomopathogenenic fungi on Tribolium confusum has been tried under the laboratory conditions, contact and repellent effects of essential oils and contact effect of dry plant extract were determined.As a result, essential oil, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 μl / ml doses of Mentha rotundifolia showed 100% effect after 24 hours, while Satureja calamintha reached 100% effect after 96 hours.15 μl / ml dose of M. rotundifolia and 20 μl / ml dose of S. calamintha reached 100% detrimental effect after two hours. Powder doses of 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 g of these plants, which were applied, caused the death of all the male and female individuals after 24 hours. In addition, the effects of 1x107 conidia / mL dose of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana after 24, 48 and 72 hours were 87.5%, 97.5% and 100%, respectively. It was seen that both essential oils and B. bassiana were successfully in suppressing the depot pest Tribolium confusum.