Insecticidal and biochemical effect of some dried plants against Oryzaephilus surinamensis (Coleoptera-Silvanidae)

Dry powders of three plants, namely ginger (Zingiber afficinale), hail (Elettaria cardamomum) and shammar (Foeniculum vulgare) were tested, for their toxicity, against the adult beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis, as date pest threatens the date product in Saudi Arabia. All the tested plants showed insecticidal activity against O. surinamensis. Ginger is the most potent plant, recording the lowest LC50 value (0.14 mg/g) followed by hail and shammar (LC50 = 0.4 and 0.7 mg/g) respectively. Tested plants alter the protein configuration of O. surinamensis after using PAGE for protein analysis. Ginger and shammar increased the insect protein subfractions than normal; while hail reduced separated bands, especially proteins of moderate molecular weight.