Mosquito control potential of secondary metabolites isolated from Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus

Abstract Repeated use of same or different types of chemical pesticide causes environmental pollution and results in resistance in mosquitoes. Currently vector control programs need alternative tools from biological source. Plant and fungi crude metabolites maybe jointly or independently prove its efficacy on mosquitoes. In the present study, we tested the Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus crude metabolites on larvae of Anopheles stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Aedes aegypti, after 24 h and 48 h exposure in laboratory condition. Crude metabolites were characterized using GC-MS analysis. Our results clearly, shows that lower LC50 and LC90 value were observed in A. flavus on A. aegypti was 18.018 mg/l, 31.053 mg/l for 24 h exposure whereas, A. aegypti had 39.687 mg/l, 82.263 mg/l 48 h exposure respectively. Also lower LC50 and LC90 values in A. fumigatus on C. quinquefasciatus were, 11.436 mg/l and 28.309 mg/l, for 24 h exposure, A. fumigatus crude metabolites are highly toxic to mosquito larvae than A. flavus crude metabolites. Fungi cultures were confirmed as A. flavus and A. fumigatus by using 18S rDNA sequencing. Present study concluded that fungi derived secondary metabolites is eco-friendly in nature, cheaper, effective, target-specific and lower toxicity to non-target organisms.