Bioassays of duck weed vegetation extracts

Sink trap: duckweed and dye attractant reduce mosquito populations

“…However, more conclusive evidence is urgently required regarding the implications of plant–mosquito interactions in a vector control context (Stone et al ., ). In particular, duckweed‐treated waters have been shown to reduce larval mosquito survivorship via mechanical and chemical effects (Hobbs & Molina, ; Eid et al ., , ). However, the ovipositional responses of adults to duckweed remain poorly understood.…”

“…Indeed, duckweed species have also been found to colonize container‐style habitats (Cuthbert, personal observations), where vectorially important mosquitoes proliferate in peri‐urban and urban areas (Townroe & Callaghan, ). Duckweed extracts have insecticidal properties that cause high rates of mortality in larval mosquito populations (Eid et al ., ). In addition, such plants have been reported to repel female mosquitoes from ovipositing, at the same time as also favouring mosquito predators such as copepods (Eid et al ., ; Yang et al ., ; Cuthbert et al ., ).…”

“…In their terrestrial adult stage, through the use of visual, olfactory and tactile cues (Bentley & Day, ), mosquitoes are frequently observed to be highly responsive to the presence of aquatic predators that consume their larvae, and often display an active avoidance of oviposition within predator‐colonized habitats (Vonesh & Blaustein, ). However, the presence of plants or plant compounds can also profoundly influence larval mosquito survival (Eid et al ., ).…”

“…Although the application of pond dyes can reduce the growth of submerged plants and algae via reductions in the penetration of visible light spectrums into water (620–740 nm) (Douglas et al ., ), there is no evidence to suggest that their use impedes the growth of free‐floating aquatic plants on the water surface. Thus, the co‐application of duckweed and pond dyes may synergize mosquito control efficacy via ovipositional attraction and greater net lethal effects, given that the presence of duckweed or pond dyes can separately facilitate increased rates of larval mortality (Eid et al ., , ; Ortiz‐Perea & Callaghan, ). Indeed, the use of black pond dye has been shown to reverse ovipositional predator avoidance behaviours by mosquitoes, which has resulted in an enhanced potential for effective biological control (Cuthbert et al ., ).…”

The Prospect of Duckweed in Pig Nutrition: A Review

“…Duckweed has been postulated by Eid et al (1992) and Marten et al (1996) as a plant with insecticidal properties against the larval stages of mosquitoes. This is another area that requires investigation because if the insecticidal properties are sufficient to control mosquito populations, duckweed will have a positive effect on the health of people residing in mosquito infested areas, especially in those areas where conventional methods of controlling mosquitoes are not feasible.…”