BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF MUSA ACUMINATA (MUSACEAE) EXTRACTS AGAINST THE MOSQUITO VECTOR; CULEX PIPIENS L. (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

The present study evaluated the activity of ethanol 70%, acetone, chloroform and petroleum ether extracts of Musa acuminata leaves against the 3rd instar larvae of the mosquito vector, Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) which act as a vector of many diseases in Egypt. In addition, the repellent activity of the tested extracts against C. pipiens adults was examined. The obtained results revealed that, all tested plant extracts showed a larvicidal activity against the 3rd instar larvae of C. pipiens; however, the petroleum ether extract was more effective with LC50 571.8ppm than chloroform, acetone and ethanolic extracts, where the LC50 values recorded 1567.3, 1158.3 and 1034.1ppm; respectively. On the other hand, all tested extracts evoked a variable degree of repellent activity against C. pipiens starved females. Also, petroleum ether extract was the most effective extract that exhibited high repellent action as compared with the chloroform, acetone and ethanolic extracts. These results demonstrated that ethanolic, acetone, chloroform and petroleum ether extracts of M. acuminata leaves serve as pest control agents, even in their crude form. These results provide an opportunity to develop alternatives to costly organic pesticides with some available cheap plants which are usually safe to the environment and to non-target organisms.