Bioefficacy of some Indigenous Nigerian Plant Leaves on Mosquito Species

Abstract

Mosquitoes have caused a great damage to humans and animals and the use of synthetic insecticides in the control of this pest is also harmful. Therefore, there is need to control it with natural, biodegradable, economical and environmental friendly insecticide. Leaves of different local plants ( Azadirachta indica , Ocimum gratissimum , Cymbopogon citratus and Ageratum conyzoides ) were extracted using soxhlet apparatus for petroleum ether extraction solvent. Also, distilled water was used for aqueous extraction separately. The different extracts were used to treat the pupal stage of three different mosquito species ( Anopheles gambiae , Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti ) separately. It was observed from the result that the mean death in different extraction solvent was significantly different with higher mortality in petroleum ether extracts than aqueous extracts. Also, mean effect of each plant extract is significantly different on the death of mosquito at 0.05% confidence level Azadirachta indica leaf most effective followed by Ocimum gratissimum leaf and lastly Ageratum conyzoides leaf. Furthermore, at the same concentration,   Anopheles gambiae recorded the highest mean death of 6.296 followed by Aedes aegypti with 5.558 and Culex quinquefasciatus 3.885.The leaves of the local plants used were effective in the control of mosquito species.