Insecticidal property of methanolic leaf extract of Sweet Basil, Ocimum basilicum (L.) against cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (Fab.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the insecticidal property of Ocimum basilicum (L.) against cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (Fab.). The bioactive compounds from the leaves were extracted using Soxhlet apparatus with methanol. Five different concentrations viz., 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% were used against adult beetles of L. serricorne. In contact toxicity, highest mean mortality was effected by 5% methanol extract (66.67%), followed by 4% methanol extract (58.33%), 3% methanol extract (52.22%), 2% methanol extract (47.22%) and 1% methanol extract (43.33%). In repellency test, 5% methanol extract produced highest mean repellency (86.88%) (Class V) followed by 4% methanol extract (80.00%) (Class V), 3% methanol extract (73.75%) (Class IV), 2% methanol extract (68.13%) (Class IV) and 1% methanol extract (64.38%) (Class IV).