Abstract

The effects of the aqueous extracts of whole plants of Striga hermonthica and Mitracarpus scaber against the larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito were investigated and the level of significance and effective concentration was also investigated. The extracts of the two plants were effective as mosquito larvicidal, with M. scaber being more effective than that ofS. hermonthica. The larvicidal effectiveness of the extracts was directly proportional to their dilution given in percentage (%) concentration, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0%, the higher the concentration of the extracts, the more effective. It is therefore concluded that S. hermonthica and M. scaber contain larvicidal properties that could be developed and used as natural insecticides for mosquito control.

Key words: Striga hermonthica, Mitracarpus scaber, Culex quinquefasciatus, mosquito larvae, aqueous extracts.