Management of cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) infesting stored turmeric, Curcuma longa (L.) with phyto-fumigation

The investigation on the management of cigarette beetle with plant leaves as fumigants was carried out with neem (Azadirachta indica), notchi (Vitex negundo), pungam (Pongamia pinnata) and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus). An untreated control was maintained simultaneously. Among the treatments evaluated, in the single dose application of phyto-fumigants, the treatment, neem fumigation achieved faster cent - percent mortality compared to other treatments during fifth day. Similarly, the eucalyptus fumigation took seven days after treatment to achieve 100% mortality of released adults. Whereas, notchi and pungam fumigation took nine days for the complete mortality of released insects. In the application of double dose of phyto-fumigants, the neem and eucalyptus fumigation has achieved 85.00 per cent mortality after three days of treatment and they were statistically on par with each other followed by pungam fumigation (30.00%) which was statistically on par with notchi fumigation (25.00%). No mortality was observed in control. All the treatments have achieved 100 per cent mortality at five days after treatment. It is concluded that the application of both neem and eucalyptus fumes are effective in the control of cigarette beetle and could be used as an alternative to synthetic fumigants in stored pest management strategies by small scale farmers.