Vol. 7, Issue 5, Part A (2020)

Author(s): Ahmed Ali Alghamdi and Nosiba SH Basher

Abstract: Lantana camara is a perennial shrub belongs to the family Verbanaceae, and is considered to be one of the most invasive plant species worldwide. It is well known of having many phytoconstituents of medicinal value which can be exploited as eco-friendly biocontrol agents against harmful insects. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the larvicidal effect of ethanol extract of L. camara leaves and flowers against Anopheles arabiensis and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae. Results showed that concentrations of flower extracts reflected an LC50 of 15.84 ppm for A. arabiensis and 21.37 ppm for C. quinquefasciatus, while, it reflected an LC₉₅ of 50.11 ppm for A. arabiensis and 63.09 ppm for C. quinquefasciatus. Also, leaves extracts reflected an LC₅₀ of 9.54 ppm for A. arabiensis and 5.01 ppm for C. quinquefasciatus, while, it reflected an LC₉₅ of 21.11 ppm for both A. arabiensis and C. quinquefasciatus. According to the obtained LC₅₀ values, ethanol extract of L. camara leaves showed relatively higher larvicidal potentiality against C. quinquefasciatus larvae than A. arabiensis larvae. Also, leaves extract showed more potent effect on larvae of both species than flower extract. In addition, some morphological changes were noticed on both species when they submitted to higher extracts of leaves and flower. Changes include larva and pupa damage with disconnected alimentary canal and head loss, as well as to failure to pupate on color pupa and morphogenesis termination of A. arabiensis and C. quinquefasciatus. Finally, the change in the larval color was higher when submitted to leaves than flower extracts. Current study concludes that the use of Lantana camara active substances in mosquito control instead of synthetic insecticides could reduce the cost and environmental pollution.