LARVICIDAL AND PUPICIDAL EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF THE AERIAL ROOTS OF RHAPHIDOPHORA AUREA INTERTWINED OVER FOUR DIFFERENT HOST TREES AGAINST CULEX QUINQUEFASCIATUS SAY

Abstract

Phytochemicals have proven that they are potential mosquito control agents and also alternative to synthetic insecticides. Different concentration of the ethanolic extract of aerial roots of Rhaphidophora aurea (Money plant) intertwined over Lawsonia inermis (Mehandhi), Areca catechu (Betal nut tree), Cocos nucifera (Coconut tree) and Azadirachta Indica (Neem tree) have been tested on the first(I), second(II), third(III), fourth(IV) instar larvae and pupae of Culex quinquefasciatus say. Lethal concentration (LC50 and LC90) were also worked for the different larval and pupal stages. The larval and pupal density decreased after the treatment with the extract. The results obtained indicate better activity of the ethanol extract of aerial roots of Rhaphidophora aurea climbed over Lawsonia inermis than the ethanol extract of aerial roots of Rhaphidophora aurea climbed over Areca catechu, Azadirachta Indica and hence these extracts can be suitable alternatives to synthetic insecticides. The ethanol extract of aerial roots of Rhaphidophora aurea climbed over Cocos nucifera showed zero mortality in all the stages and also no significant repellent bioassay.