Abstract
A study on food preference for the confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum, in relation to insect development on some selected food groups: seeds, flour, spices, nuts and medicinal plants showed significant statistical differences (P<0.01). Fourteen prefered diets and ten medicinal plants and seed mixtures were tested for their effect on the development and survival of the confused flour beetle. The results revealed significant statistical differences (P<0.01) for the repellency, deterrents of feeding and mortality effects on adult Tribolium confusum mainly for Mint, Cloves, Rue, Rosemary, Cinammon, Thyme, Fenugreek and Eucalyptus; which encouraged their incorporation as natural control sources for the integrated control of the confused flour beetle as a part of stored food products.