Vol. 5, Issue 1, Part A (2018)

Author(s): Nour El-Houda Djeghader, Linda Aïssaoui, Khedidja Amira and Hamid Boudjelida

Abstract: Mosquitoes transmit serious human diseases, causing millions of deaths every year. Use of conventional insecticides to control vector mosquitoes has caused physiological resistance and adverse environmental effects in addition to high operational cost. Insecticides of botanical origin have been reported as promising alternatives for mosquito controls. The present study carried out in order to evaluate the larvicidal activity and the effects on development of saponin against mosquito larvae. The larval mortality was observed after 24 h of exposure. The product showed larvicidal effect with a concentration-dependent mortality. The highest larval mortality was found using the 20mg/l of saponin against the larvae of Cx. pipiens with the LC₅₀ =11.07 mg/l and LC₉₀₌ 32.85 mg/l for the fourth instar stage. The egg laid was observed after 48 h post-emergence. The percent hatchability was inversely proportional to the concentration of extract and directly proportional to the eggs. The product showed moderate ovicidal activity. Saponin and its derived products have shown a variety of insecticidal properties.