An Endevour to Control Anopheles stephensi (Liston) Larvae by Plant Extracts

Aqueous extracts of four plants were tested in a laboratory for larvicidal properties against the most serious vector of malaria and filariasis, Anopheles stephensi Liston (Diptera: Culicidae). The endeavour is to further explore the use of natural insecticides in integrated vector management programmes to control larvae of Anopheles. Laboratory reared larvae were exposed to 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 ppm concentrations of the extracts of Momordica charantia, Nyctanthes-arbor-tristis, Ocimum tenuiflorum and Eucalyptus citriodora respectively in Zoology research laboratory of D.A-V Degree College, Kanpur, India. Larvicidal assays were conducted according to standard WHO procedure 1981. Result showed that plant Nyctanthes-arbor-tristis elicited (63–95%) mortality, followed by Eucalyptus citriodora (40–80%), Ocimum tenuiflorum (37–73%) and Momordica charantia elicited (16–50%) mortality to larvae. Nyctanthes-arbor-tristis, Eucalyptus citriodora and Ocimum tenuiflorum extracts were found significantly effective in controlling Anopheles larvae.