Abstract

LARVICIDE AND OVIPOSITION DETERRENT ACTIVITY OF PLANT EXTRACTS AGAINST AEDES AEGYPTI

Saroj Bapna*, Trupti Satvekar, Pradeep Jadhav and Mrunal Ghag Sawant

Abstract

Biological control of mosquitoes is an attractive alternative to chemicalpesticides, particularly in view of strict environmental legislation andincreased resistance to synthetic insecticides there has been a majorshift towards use of natural product from plant source Therefore,continuous efforts are being made to look for safer alternative methodsto keep mosquitoes at check. In the present study methanolic leafextract of two plants Calotropis gigantia (family: Asclepiadaceae) andDatura innoxia (family: Solanaceae) were evaluated for larvicidal andoviposition deterrent activity against Aedes aegypti (Diptera:Culicidae) mosquito. The best way to keep the mosquitoes at check islarviciding. Laboratory reared early fourth instars larvae were screenedusing WHO standard protocol. The oviposition deterrent test was performed using gravidfemale Aedes aegypti. Calotropis gigantia and D. innoxia demonstrated larvicidal activitywith LC50 value 579.25 ppm and 375.74 ppm respectively. The oviposition deterrent tests ofD. innoxia and C. giganatia leaves reduced egg laying by 100% and 82.28% at 800 ppmagainst Aedes aegypti respectively. The results thus indicates that both larvicidal andOviposition deterrent potential of leaves extract could be used as promising mosquito controlstrategy particularly in view of continuing problem with resistance to synthetic insecticidesand environmental pollution.

Keywords: Aedes aegypti, Dengue, mosquito larvae, oviposition deterrent.