【Background】Celosia argentea L. is an important traditional Chinese herbal medicine, the activity of its secondary compounds on plant diseases have been reported, while the activity on pest control was seldom documented. 【Method】In order to examine the activity of C. argentea secondary compounds on pest, the effects of extracts using 4 solvents (methanol, n-butanol, petroleum ether, distilled water) were examined on larval body mass and pupal development in the palm pest, Tirathaba rufivena Walker. 【Result】All extracts except petroleum ether showed an inhibitory effect, with the highest activity in methanol extracts. Methanol extracts decreased larval body mass to 39.35% of the control, and the size of pupae were 29.05% compared to the control. 【Conclusion and significance】C. argentea secondary compounds have insect growth regulator activity against this pest.