Assessment of Damage and Losses in Some Medicinal Plants by the Cigarette Beetle (Lasioderma serricorne (F.))

摘要

The Cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne (F.)) is considered an injurious pest to a great number of stored medicinal and aromatic plants. Six medicinal plants were selected for their preference to this pest under stored conditions in both choice and non choice tests, Coriander seemed to be the most suitable host for the cigarette beetle to deposit its eggs and Fennel was highly preferable for landing of adults. On the other hand, Cumin was the least preferable one where the tested insects showed the least fecundity, fertility and adult emergence. Under the storage conditions, L. serricorne caused great losses to the stored medicinal plants (seeds or flowers). Coriander was found to be the highest infested host and Caraway was the least one. The percent weight loss increased significantly in case of Coriander in comparison with the other tested host plants.