INSECTICIDAL EFFECTS OF ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF MILLINGTONIA HORTENSIS L.F. (BIGNONIACEAE) AGAINST AEDES AEGYPTI (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

Abstract

Mosquitoes are the most important group of insects in terms of public health importance, which transmit serious
diseases. Vector control is a major challenge now a-days when they became resistance against commonly available
insecticides and an adverse effect on non-target organisms and environment. Plants are potential source of bioactive
agents which can be used in vector control and phytochemicals may serve as appropriate alternative to synthetic
insecticides. The present work evaluated the mosquito larvicidal, pupicidal potential of ethanol leaf extract of Millingtonia
hortensis against the larval (I-IV) and pupal stages of Aedes aegypti. The larvicidal and pupicidal assay test are carried out the
instructions of WHO guidelines. The data were subjected to Finney’s method of probit analysis. The LC50,90 /24,48
hours values of ethanol leaf extract of M. hortensis to I instar larvae was 0.032 0.038; 0.021 0.031 % and this was found to
gradually increase with the age of larvae. Pupae showed the highest resistance to the ethanol leaf extract of M. hortensis as
evident from the relatively higher LC50,90 /24,48 hours values 0.068, 0.071; 0059, 0.069 %. Therefore, ethanolic leaf
extract of M. hortensis can be used as alternative to synthetic larvicides and it may become an important tool in mosquito
control programs.