Larvicidal potentials of leaf and bark extracts of Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Schlect) and Eucalyptus citriodora (Hook) on Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) larvae

The larvicidal activity of leaf and bark extracts of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus citriodora on juveniles of Culex quinquefasciatus was determined. Larvae were successfully bred in the laboratory to obtain a “pure” colony. One hundred and sixty‐two batches of 25 larvae each were treated with 3.90, 15.63, 62.50, 250 and 1000 mg/L of plant extract in three replicates, for 24 h to record mortality and for up to 96 h to record feeding and fecundity. There was an increase in percentage mortality with increase in concentration of the petroleum ether plant extracts. There was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) between extracts used in the bioassay and mortality of larvae, but there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the two plant species. Statistical analysis of average mortality figures using Probit analysis for the leaf extracts of E. citriodora and E. camaldulensis, respectively, had LC₅₀ of 245.47 (26.89 ± 10.13 [SE]) and 316.23 (22.89 ± 8.95) for the crude extracts; 97.72 (44.95 ± 12.89) and 223.87 (29.17 ± 9.56) for the petroleum ether extracts; and 162.18 (30.7 ± 11.16) and 257.04 (26.47 ± 9.28) for the methanol extracts. The bark extracts of E. citriodora and E. camaldulensis, respectively, had LC₅₀ of 251.19 (27.78 ± 8.39) and 398.11 (20.7 ± 7.17) for methanol; and 302.0 (21.56 ± 8.11) and 630.96 (13.56 ± 6.4) for hexane. Both plant species showed anti‐feeding properties against larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus.