EVALUATION OF MOSQUITOCIDAL POTENTIAL OF DRYPETES ROXBURGHII (WALL.)GREEN MATURE FRUITS AGAINST IMMATURES OF CULEX QUINQUEFASCIATUS SAY AND ANOPHELES STEPHENSI LISTON

Abstract

Mosquito larvicidal potential of mature fruits of Drypetes roxburghii was investigated against mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus Say and Anopheles stephensi Liston. In the larvicidal bioassay with crude extract against all four instars 3^rd instar larvae of both species was noticed to be more susceptible to death in terms of LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values. Among the solvent extracts of fruits prepared using six solvents [viz. petroleum ether, benzene, ethyl acetate, chloroform: methanol (1:1 v/v), acetone and absolute alcohol] ethyl acetate extract was most potent solvent extract against 3^rd instar of both mosquito species with LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values 77.03ppm, 205.64 ppm for Cx. quinquefasciatus and 49.535ppm, 108.88ppm for An. stephensi respectively. Qualitative analysis traced the presence of some phytochemicals. Upon test on non-target organisms like Diplonychus annulatum, Poecilia reticulata, larvae of Toxorhynchites splendens both crude and ethyl acetate extract proved relatively nontoxic.