Influence of <i>Allium Sativum</i> (Garlic), <i>Zingiber officinale</i> (Ginger) and <i>Syzygium aromaticum</i> (Clove) Extract against Larvae of <i>Aedes</i> mosquitoes (Culicidae: Diptera)

Abstract

Mosquito control has become more difficult due to the unsystematic use of synthetic chemical insecticides which have inauspicious effect on the environment. Botanical phyto-chemicals with mosquitocidal potential are now recognized as potent alternative insecticides to replace synthetic insecticides in mosquito control programs due to their excellent larvacidal activities. The present study assessed the influence of A. sativum (garlic), Z. officinale (ginger) and S. aromatic (clove) extracts against Aedes mosquitoes. Larvacidal activities of three indigenous plant extracts were studied in the range 5.0 to 30.0mg/l in the laboratory bioassay against fourth instar larvae of Aedes sp. The mortality were subjected to probit analysis to determine the lethal concentration (LC₅₀) to kill 50 percent of treated larvae of Aedes sp. Data obtained were analyzed by Comparing experimental groups and control groups with significance level established at p<0.05. All plants tasted showed effects after 24hrs of exposure at different concentration (mg/l). However the highest mortality was found in A. Sativum (garlic) and Z. officinale (ginger) against larvae of Aedes mosquitoes with LC₅₀ = 42.50% (2.685) and LC₅₀ = 30.01% (4.461) mg/l, while S. aromatic(clove) was found to have lowest mortality at LC₅₀ = 24.50% (5.52) respectively. It is therefore recommended that A. sativum(Gallic), S. aromatic (Clove) has showed larvacidal effects against Aedes mosquitoes and could be served as alternative form of botanical control against mosquitoes .

Keywords: A. sativum (garlic), Z. officinale (ginger) and S. aromatic (clove), Extracts, Aedes mosquitoes