Larvicidal Efficacy of Fruit Peel Extracts of Citrus maxima against Culex quinquefasciatus

Abstract

Crude, and three different solvents, viz., n- hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol fruit peel extracts of Citrus maxima Merr. ( C. maxima ) were applied at dose dependent manner for larvicidal bioassay against Culex quinquefasciatus Say, 1823 ( Cx. quinquefasciatus ) mosquito. All instars larvae were used for larvicidal bioassay of crude fruit peel extract and only 3 rd instar larvae were used for larvicidal bioassay of different solvent extracts.  Log-probit analyses along with Regression equations and R 2 values were determined for larvicidal activity of both crude and different solvent extracts. An ANOVA analysis was carried out to justify the statistical significance. Qualitative phytochemical analyses were done. n-Hexane fruit peel extract was also applied on non target organisms. Crude fruit peel extract of C. maxima showed strong lethal activity against all instars larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus . 1 st instar larvae were most susceptible to crude fruit peel extract. 1 st instar larvae showed 100% mortality only at 0.2% concentration of crude fruit peel extract after 72 h of exposure. 100% mortality of 3 rd instar larvae were observed at 400 ppm concentration of n-hexane fruit peel extract after 24 h of exposure whereas, ethyl acetate and methanol fruit peel extracts showed 100% mortality at 800 ppm concentration  after 72 and 24 h of exposure respectively. LC 50 values of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol fruit peel extracts were 204.60, 640.95, and 336.36 ppm, respectively against 3 rd instar larvae after 24 h of exposure.  No mortality was observed on control treatments. Fruit peel extract contained different phytochemical constituents. Non-target organisms did not show any abnormal activity and mortality.