Larvicidal, pupicidal and adult smoke toxic effects of Acanthospermum hispidum (DC) leaf crude extracts against mosquito vectors.

Plant based insecticides are now increasing being realized as a suitable for alternative to synthetic chemical insecticides. Acanthospermum hispidum leaf crude extract were tested for insecticidal potential against three major mosquitoes. A. hispidum leaves were extracted with different solvents such as hexane, petroleum benzene, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and acetone. Extracted crude metabolites were tested on larvae, pupa and adult mosquitoes belonging to An. Stephensi , Ae. aegypti , and Cx quinquefasciatus . Larval, pupal bioassay and smoke toxicity was done according to the WHO guidelines. The results, petroleum benzene crude extract have highest larvicidal, pupicidal activity with low LC 50 and LC 90 values for larval An.stephensi (20.965; 31.467) ppm; Ae. aegypti (15.223; 27.753) ppm; Cx. quinquefasciatus (29.095; 42.737) ppm and pupicidal LC 50 and LC 90 values were (41.234; 51.123); (32.168; 55.321); (39.213; 49.123) ppm respectively. Smoke toxicity test on adult mosquitoes, shows 69% in An.stephensi , 52% in Ae. Aegypti and 56% in Cx. quinquefasciatus . Our result clearly shows that A.hispidum leaf crude extract have a promising insecticidal activity against three mosquitoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]