Larvicidal Effects of Extracts of Artemisia Annua Leaves against Anopheline and Culicine Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are known to vector more diseases than any other arthropod group, affecting millions of people worldwide. The urgent need for novel insecticides that are effective, safe, biodegradable, affordable, and target-specific is highlighted by the problem of insecticide resistance and its consequences on non-target organisms. Plants, which contain a large number of bioactive compounds, may be an alternative source of mosquito control agents. This study was aimed at investigating the larvicidal activity of Artemisia annua against the Anopheline and Culicine mosquito species. Insecticidal susceptibility tests were carried out using the WHO standard method, and mortality was observed after 24, 48 and 72 hours of exposure. Two solvents were used to obtain the plant extract, and the result was compared to the larvicidal activity of Cymbopogan citratus and Azadirachta indica, which are known to be standard plants with larvicidal activity. There was no significant difference in all the comparisons made. The highest larval mortality rate was observed in anophelines exposed to petroleum ether extract of A. annua, with 100% mortality after 72 hours of exposure, followed by Anophelines exposed to aqueous extract of C. citratus, with 97.5% mortality. Then, culicines were exposed to petroleum ether extract of A. annua with 87.5% mortality and aqueous extracts of A. annua, and C. citratus showed 75% mortality on culicine larvae, respectively. This work recommends that A. annua is a safe and natural mosquito larvicide that is just as effective as the commercial chemical product and should be planted around homes, as they could have the potential to repel mosquitoes and reduce mosquito-borne diseases.