Larvicidal and Oviposition Deterrent Effects of Methanolic Leaf Extracts of Azadirachta indica against Culex quinquefasciatus under Laboratory Conditions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56919/usci.2543.047Keywords:
Azadirachta indica, Culex quinquefasciatus, Vector ControlAbstract
The larvicidal and repellent activities of Azadirachta indica (Neem) methanol leaf extracts were evaluated against the filariasis vector, Culex quinquefasciatus. Larvicidal bioassays were conducted using a concentration gradient of 10–50 mg/L with mortality recorded hourly over a 4-hour exposure period. The extract demonstrated a rapid onset of toxicity, with the 50 mg/L concentration yielding a significant mean mortality of 3.00±1.00 within the first hour (p<0.05). By the second hour, significant larvicidal effects were sustained across the 30–50 mg/L range, with mean mortality values reaching 2.00±0.00. At the conclusion of the 4-hour observation, cumulative mortality at the lowest concentration (10 mg/L) was 1.00±0.00, indicating a clear dose-dependent relationship. Repellency assays provided further quantitative evidence of bioactivity, characterized by a Mean Protection Time (MPT) of 210 minutes at an 80% extract concentration. This high-dose application achieved a 96% repellency rate, significantly outperforming the 42% repellency observed at the 20% concentration. These results establish that methanol extracts of A. indica possess potent entomocidal properties, functioning as both an effective larvicide and a long-lasting repellent. The findings suggest that A. indica leaf extracts represent a viable, eco-friendly candidate for integrated vector management programs targeting C. quinquefasciatus.
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