Ovicidal, Larvicidal and Pupicidal Efficacy of Crude Methanol and Hexane Extract of Urtica massaica Mildbri on Anopheles gambiae Giles

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate ovicidal, larvicidal and pupicidal potency of methanol and hexane extracts of leaves, stems and roots of Urtica massaica Mildbr. against aquatic stages of Anopheles gambiae Giles. The effectiveness of the extracts was evaluated using the WHO protocol. One-way analysis of variance was performed for statistical justifications of the insecticidal property of the extracts with p considered significant at p < 0.05. It was found that potency of extracts was dose dependent. Extracts from the stem were more potent than the roots or leaves. Mortalities of the aquatic stages were however, significantly different (p < 0.05) irrespective of stage. Third larval instars (L3s) were more susceptible than eggs or pupae. Doses of 80 cm3/100ml (s/w) and above matched the WHO > 80% mortality for an effective insecticide. It was concluded that higher doses of the crude extracts of U. massaica were potent against An. gambiae.