Comparative evaluation of green pesticides techno oil and berna star vs. malathion [electronic resource]: impact on contact toxicity, reproduction, and antifeedant activity in trogoderma granarium everts (fam: dermestidae)

Includes reference.

Regarding to growing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable pest management strategies,
the evaluation of alternative pest control agents assumes critical significance. This study investigates the impact
of two environmentally friendly green pesticides, Techno oil and Berna star, on the Khapra beetle (Trogoderma
granarium), a notorious pest of stored grains, in comparison to the conventional chemical pesticide, Malathion.
The contact toxicity revealed that all tested compounds exhibited significant efficacy against Khapra beetles. For
adults Malathion had the strongest effect with LC50 of 0.91 mg/kg followed by techno oil and Berna star with
LC50 values 2369.2 and 3486.8 mg/L, respectively after 48 h of exposure using thin film technique. Contact
toxicity of tested pesticides increased as the exposure time increased. All tested compounds reduced F1 progeny
of Khabra beetle. Techno oil had the highest reduction effect on adults of khabra beetles with 100% reduction at
a concentration of 5000 mg/kg, while Berna star and Malathion achieved 71.25% reduction at concentrations of
5000 mg/kg and 8 mg/kg, recpectively. For weight loss percentages, Malathion application resulted in 3.40%
weight loss at the highest concentration (8 mg/kg), followed by Techno oil with 6.80% at the highest
concentration of 5000 mg/kg, while Berna star application resulted in 8.10% weight loss in grain weight at the
same concentration of Techno oil. This study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of green pesticides as viable alternatives to chemical pesticides in the context of Khapra beetle control.
Keywords: Stored-product insects; integrated pest management; Trogoderma granarium; contact toxicity; antifeedant activity

Summary in Arabic.