Digestive Effect of Aqueous Extract of Nigella sativa Seeds on The Larval and Adult Mortality of The Red Flour Beetle, Tribolium castanium

Abstract

The red flour beetle Tribolium castanium was rearing in the laboratory on its natural food, which is mainly composed of flour or rice, with laboratory temperature (28 + 2) and humidity (50 + 10%) and various life stages were obtained for this insect. The results of the current study showed that the aqueous sweet cumin seed extract affected the increase in the mortality percentages of red flour beetle larvae and adults with the increase in the concentrations used, and there was a direct relationship between the concentrations used (5, 10, 15, 20) mg/ml for the aqueous extracts of Nigella sativa seeds and the adults and larval mortality percentages of the red flour beetle. The highest larval mortality was 100% when using the concentration of 20 mg/ml after 192 hours of treatment, while the highest mortality percentage for adults was 100% when using the concentration of 20 mg/ml after 192 hours of treatment. The highest mortality percentages were recorded for adults and larvae on the first day of treatment.