~ 331 ~  Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2015; 3(4): 331-333 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2015; 3(4): 331-333 © 2015 JEZS Received: 22-06-2015 Accepted: 24-07-2015 Imtiaz Ali Khan Department of Entomology, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar. Hameed Khan Department of Entomology, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar. Inamullah Khan Entomology Division, Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Peshawar. Rasheed Akbar Department of Entomology, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar. Mukhtar Alam Faculty of Agriculture, The University of Swabi, Pakistan. Muhammad Saeed Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar. Abid Farid Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar. Ijaz Ali Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar. Komal Habib Department of Entomology, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar. Walija Fayaz Department of Entomology, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar. Correspondence: Hameed Khan Department of Entomology, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar. Efficacy of some plant extracts on larval mortality of Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) (Diptera: Culicidae) in Peshawar Imtiaz Ali Khan, Hameed Khan, Inamullah Khan, Rasheed Akbar, Mukhtar Alam, Muhammad Saeed, Abid Farid, Ijaz Ali, Komal Habib, Walija Fayaz Abstract Culex quinquefasciatus vectors Wuchereria bancrofti, which causes Lymphatic filariasis, a hurting and extremely disfiguring disease, in millions of people in tropical and subtropical areas of the world each year. Synthetic insecticides have been mainly used for the control of the insect vector. In the present research efficacy of some plant extracts in ethanol solvent on larval mortality of C. quinquefasciatus after 24 hrs was tested at the Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Peshawar during 2013. LC50 and LC95 values of the plant extracts were also determined. The experiment was laid out in CR Design with 6 treatments, i.e. lemon juice, lemon grass, basil, thyme, fruit of bitter gourd and control, each replicated three times. The plant extracts were tested each in five concentrations of 200, 300, 500, 700 and 1000 ppm. The results indicated significance differences in C. quinquefasciatus mortalities caused by different treatments and control. Thyme and bitter gourd gave 100% mortalities of the insect at all the concentrations in ethanol extract. LC50 value was highest for lemon juice (694.004) and LC95 value was highest for basil (7102.726) after 24 hrs in ethanol extract. The study recommended that the plant extracts should be tested at lower concentrations as many of the extracts yielded 100% mortalities at higher concentrations. Keywords: C. quinquefasciatus, Ethanol solvent extract, LC50, LC95, Mortality. 1. Introduction Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) (Diptera: Culicidae) is a cosmopolitan mosquito species found in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions of the world. It is one of the most successful mosquito species because it can breed in almost all type of habitats such as ponds, stagnant water, roadside ditches, freshwater ponds, banks of rivers and natural streams, etc. [1] . In Pakistan, it is found in abundance everywhere except the northern colder areas where temperature goes below zero o C. In southern parts of the country diverse variety of the mosquitoes can be found. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to suitable environmental conditions throughout the province and the ability of mosquito adaptation to diverse environmental conditions has led it to survive everywhere [2] . C. quinquefasciatus acts as a vector of Wuchereria bancrofti which causes Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis which is a hurting and extremely disfiguring disease [3] . 120 million people in tropical and subtropical areas of the world suffered from lymphatic filariasis. Among these infected people, about 25 million men suffered with genital disease most commonly hydrocele, and 15 million (mostly women) suffered with lymphoedema or elephantiasis of leg [4] . In 2001, confirmed cases of Tropical Pulmonary Eosinophilia (TPE) were reported in indigenous patients; however the disease is rare in Pakistan [5] . Mosquito control is effective in larval stage. Larviciding is one approach to vector control, which is carried out at breeding sites of the vectors before they emerge as adults. Larval stages breed in water and can be more easily dealt with in this habitat; therefore, they are attractive targets for pesticides [6] . Chemical control is an effective control for pests used mostly in daily life. Synthetic pesticides are mostly used in the world for controlling pests including mosquitoes. But there are many draw backs of using synthetic pesticides such as these have residual effects and they also kill non- harmful insects so most of the synthetic pesticides have environmental issues. The mosquitoes also get resistance to insecticides with passage of time.