Larvicidal efficacy of latex and extract of Calotropis procera (Gentianales: Asclepiadaceae) against Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae).

Abstract

Mosquitoes are responsible for transmission of many diseases to human. They not only can carry diseases that afflict humans, but also transmit several diseases and parasites to birds, dogs, horses, etc. Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) are urban and rural mosquito pests in Iran. Hormozgan province, southern Iran, has a favourable climate for mosquito breeding and development, with active foci of malaria transmission. Extensive application of chemical insecticides for many years in this area caused irrepairable damages to environment and resulted in resistance in An. stephensi to some insecticides/larvicides 1,2 . Several botanicals offer great promise as sources of phytochemicals for the control of mosquitoes. One of the earliest reports of the use of plant extracts against mosquito larvae is extraction of plant alkaloids like nicotine, anabasine, methyl anabasine and lupinine from the Russian weed in 1933. Anabasis aphylla killed larvae of Culex pipiens Linn., Cx.