EVALUATION OF ESSENTIAL OILS OF DIFFERENT CITRUS SPECIES AGAINST TROGODERMA GRANARIUM (EVERTS) (COLEOPTERA: DERMESTIDAE) COLLECTED FROM VEHARI AND FAISALABAD DISTRICTS OF PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

In the present study, an attempt was made to evaluate the impact of essential oils of four citrus species (Citrus paradisi, Citrus sinensis, Citrus aurantium and Citrus reticulata) on two different strains (Faisalabad and Vehari) of T. granarium. Grubs of T. granarium were exposed for 3, 6 and 9 days to grains treated with 2, 4 and 8% concentrations of citrus peel essential oil under laboratory conditions. At concentration of 8% C. aurantium essential oils were highly effective against T. granarium than other citrus species with respect to percent mortality (27.30%), followed by C. reticulate (26.65%), C. sinensis (22.36%) and C. paradisi (20.00%). Our data reveals that Faisalabad strain is susceptible than Vehari strain. At 8% concentration F progeny failed completely to develop in case of C. sinensis 1 application. Data regarding grain loss caused by T. granarium showed that minimum grain loss occurred in case of C. aurantium treated grains, followed by C. paradisi, C. sinensis and C. reticulate. It could be concluded that citrus essential oils possess excellent insecticidal, growth inhibition and antifeedant activities against T. Granarium.