Larvicidal Activity of Kalabo (O. vulgare), Pandan (P. amaryllifolius), and Tanglad (C. citratus) against Culicidae (Mosquito) Larvae

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Mosquito-borne diseases have been affecting people for centuries. Apparently, there is a need to source out effective mosquito biological control to arrest the growing cases of sickness and fatalities brought about by this disease vector. In this study, the mosquito larvicidal activity of backyard plants ---Kalabo (O. vulgare), Pandan (P. amaryllifolius), and Tanglad (C. citratus) ---were assessed.

METHODS

Mosquito larvae were cultured using mongo sprouts as attractant. Three-day old larvae were used as test organisms. Mosquito Larvae Lethality Assay was performed using leaves aqueous extracts. Five treatments were made ---Kalabo, Pandan, Tanglad, (+) control (chlorinated water), and (-) control (untreated water). Mortality counts were done after a period of 24 hours.

RESULTS

Results showed that (+) control had the highest mortality rate (91.67%), followed by Tanglad (83.33%), Kalabo (31.67%), Pandan (6.67%), and lastly untreated water (0%). The following are the lethal concentrations (mL/L) of the extracts: Tanglad (LC50=2.15, LC90=7.91), Kalabo (LC50=12.77, LC90=116.49), and Pandan (LC50=153.11, LC90=3291).

DISCUSSIONS

Tanglad (C. citratus) has comparable potency with the (+)control as ANOVA revealed that the two treatments had no significant difference in their mortality rate. It is apparent that Tanglad is more effective as a mosquito biocontrol agent than the other plant extracts used. Tanglad is the most practical plant to use as it only needs small dosage to kill mosquito larvae.