Use of plant products and copepods for control of the dengue vector, Aedes aegypti

Abstract

The efficacy of plant extracts (neem tree, Azadirachta indica A. Juss.; Meliaceae) and copepods [Mesocyclops aspericornis (Daday)] for the control of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti L. was tested in the laboratory. Neem Seed Kernel Extract (NSKE) at 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 ppm caused significant mortality of Ae. aegypti larvae. Lethal concentrations (LC 50 and LC 90 ) were worked out. The LC 50 and LC 90 values for I to IV larval instars were 111.98, 138.34, 158.93, 185.22 ppm and for pupae was 146.13 ppm, respectively. The LC 90 value of I instar was 372.95 ppm, II instar was 422.77 ppm, III instar was 440.63 ppm, IV instar was 456.96 ppm, and pupae was 476.92 ppm, respectively.A study was conducted to test the whether the predatory efficiency of copepods on first instars changed in the presence of NSKE. The percentage of predatory efficiency of copepod was 6.80% in treatments without NSKE and the percentage of predatory efficiency increased up to 8.40% when copepods were combined with NSKE. This increase in predation efficiency may caused by detrimental effects of the neem active principle compound (Azadirachtin) on the mosquito larvae. Our results suggest that the combined application of copepods and neem extract to control Aedes populations is feasible. Repeated application of neem does not cause changes in copepod populations, because neem is highly degradable in the environment.

Toxicity effect of Delonix elata (Yellow Gulmohr) and predatory efficiency of Copepod, Mesocyclops aspericornis for the control of dengue vector, Aedes aegypti

“…aegypti in pools, tanks and coolers up to 2 to 3 weeks by Batra et al [42] . Murugan also reported that copepods are effective predators of first and second instars of mosquitoes but are not effective against the late instars [43] ; hence the combined approach using botanicals which increases the predatory efficiency of copepods against the late instars and study also reveals treatment with neem, the copepods showed higher predation rate against Ae. aegypti larvae when compared to the predation without neem treatment.…”

Eco-friendly drugs from the marine environment: spongeweed-synthesized silver nanoparticles are highly effective on Plasmodium falciparum and its vector Anopheles stephensi, with little non-target effects on predatory copepods

“…The higher predation rates of M. aspericornis against A. stephensi young larvae may be due to the impact of nanoparticles treatment on the prey organism, since they can affect the physiological and metabolic activities, thus motility. This has been hypothesized also by Murugan et al (2011), reporting higher predation rates of the copepod M. aspericornis against A. aegypti, post-treatment with neem seed kernel extract. In addition, Murugan et al (2015a) showed that seaweed-synthesized AgNPs did not reduce the predation of copepod M. longisetus against the filariasis vector C. quinquefasciatus.…”

Laboratory and field efficacy of Pedalium murex and predatory copepod, Mesocyclops longisetus on rural malaria vector, Anopheles culicifacies

“…aegypti. The percentage of predatory efficiency of copepod was 6.80% [7] . Kumar et al stated that with earlier instars of both An.…”

“…Few Mesocyclops spp. such as, Mesocyclops thermocyclopoides [17] , Mesocyclops aspericornis [7] , Macrocyclops albidus [32] , M. longisetus and Macrocyclops albidus [18] , were reported as an antagonist of mosquito larvae. In the present study assays has been conducted to test the predatory efficiency of copepod, M. longisetus on An.…”

“…Globally there have been conscientious efforts to overcome these problems and great emphasis has been placed recently on eco-friendly and economically viable methodologies for pest control. In recent years, biocontrol using predatory copepods and plant products have received much attention as potent bioactive compounds against various species of mosquitoes [7,8] .…”