Articles - Green Reports

Abstract

The action (ovicidal and larvicidal) of Annona Muricata Seed Oil Extract against Aedes Aegypti has been studied. Mosquito eggs were collected and identified as Aedes aegypti eggs, reared in the laboratory under room temperature and the eggs were allowed to hatch to 1^st and 4^th instars larvae. The Annona muricata seeds were obtained from the fruits and decorticated to obtain the light-brown kernels which were blended into powder. Some grams of the pulverized sample were put into a thimble and then into the extraction chamber of the extractor for the extraction of the seed oil. Formulation of the extract was carried out through serial dilution. Log-probit analysis was carried out for determining LD50. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also performed on the mortality data and means separated using least significant different (LSD). The result on the total hatchability of the Aedes aegypti showed that it is temperature dependent and the hatchability increases with temperature. The percentage hatchability peaked at the lowest concentration, 6.25 µl/ml. The percentage of unhatched eggs peaked at concentrations of 200µl/ml and 25 µl/ml.  The analysis of variance show that the concentrations does not differ significantly (P>0.05). The highest number of mortality was recorded at 30°C. The importance of this work is to demonstrate on how insecticides of plant origin can be used alone in the control of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The toxicity effect of Annona muricata seed oil extract on the 1st and 4th instar larvae caused high mortality with increased concentrations as time progressed and reduced mortality with reduced concentrations as time progressed.