Larvicidal and Repellent efficacy of some of the weed plant extracts against Culex quinquefasciatus Say

The indiscriminate use of synthetic insecticides over years to control mosquitoes has caused an array of adversities to human beings as well as to nature and to a greater extent it has inflicted damages to the natural environment and disturbed ecological balances. Insecticides in plant origin play an important role in the interruption of the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases at the individual as well as at the community levels. The present study tested the larvicidal activity of methanolic extracts of four plants viz., Uvaria narum A. DC. (Annonaceae), Morinda pubescens Sm. (Rubiaceae), Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Linn.) Sw. (Leguminosae) and Leea indica (Burm. f.) Merr. (Vitaceae) and repellent activity of Uvaria narum against Culex quinquefasciatus Say. From the tested plants it is observed that methanolic extracts of U. narum possesses the highest larvicidal activity and ensure 100% protection. The findings of the present investigation revealed that the methanolic extracts of the selected plants have remarkable larvicidal activity against Cx. quinquefasciatus.