National Institute of Communicable Diseases, South India Branch, Coonor, Tamil Nadu, (India).
1Division of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, National Institute of Communicable Diseases, 22-Sham Nath Marg, Delhi-110054, (India).
The impact of water fern, Azolla microphylla, to control anopheline and culicine mosquito breeding in paddy fields was evaluated. Consequent upon the introduction of plant @ 100 gm/m2 in the lind week, the reduction in larval density was observed from the 3rd week onwards till the 10th week due to the coverage of water surface with Azolla plant mat, inhibiting the mosquitoes from oviposition. The per cent reduction in the larval and pupal density in experimental paddy fields vis-a-vis control was 26.0 and 75.0 for anophelines, and 43.55 and 55.55 for culicines, respectivley.
