Integrated Use of Aluminum Phosphide and Neem Leaves for the Control of Tribolium Castaneum in Stored Wheat Grains

Abstract

Insect infestations are a major cause of post-harvest losses, posing serious challenges to global food security and agricultural sustainability. Among the most destructive storage pests, the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) causes substantial quantitative and qualitative losses in stored wheat grains through feeding damage and contamination. This study evaluated the comparative effectiveness of aluminum phosphide and neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves in controlling T. castaneum infestations in stored wheat under laboratory conditions. The treatments were assessed based on insect mortality, grain damage, weight loss, and seed germination rates. Aluminum phosphide achieved 100% mortality of T. castaneum within 2 days, demonstrating rapid and highly effective pest control. In contrast, neem leaf treatment resulted in a gradual increase in mortality, reaching 79% by the 7^th day. Grain damage was lowest in aluminum phosphide-treated grains, while neem-treated grains experienced moderate levels of damage compared with the untreated control. However, aluminum phosphide significantly reduced seed germination (65%), indicating potential residual toxicity, whereas neem-treated grains maintained a higher germination rate (83%), suggesting better preservation of seed viability. The findings indicate that although aluminum phosphide remains highly effective for immediate pest eradication, neem leaves provide a safer, eco-friendly, and sustainable alternative for stored-grain pest management. Integrating neem-based treatments into post-harvest protection strategies may help reduce dependence on synthetic fumigants while maintaining grain quality and environmental safety.