Larvicidal efficacy of various formulations of Bacillus sphaericus against the resistant strain of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) from southern India.

Use of Bacillus sphaericus Neide (Bs) as potential biolarvicide in developing countries is limited due to development of resistance by target mosquitoes. Efforts are taken to look for appropriate formulations or combination of Bs to prevent or delay resistance problem. Here, we report the efficacy of a formulated Bs product to kill Bs resistant Culex quinquefasciatus Say larvae. The laboratory reared resistance colony was maintained by subjecting selection pressure with Bs (2362) toxin. Bioassays were conducted with lyophilized, standard formulated and Bs formulated by us (all belong to strain 2362, serotype H5a5b) against Bs resistant and susceptible colonies. The Bs resistant larvae showed a high level of resistance against lyophilized toxin with resistance ratio (RR) of 8375.2, 1055.6 and 11422.3 folds at LC(50), LC(90) and LC(95) levels, respectively, when compared with Bs susceptible larvae. With formulation of standard powder, the RR between Bs resistant and susceptible larvae were 1.01, 1.13 and 1.19 folds only at LC(50), LC(90) and LC(95) levels, respectively. This observation was comparable with our formulation prepared by a ground mixture of lyophilized Bs and a placebo (plaster of Paris). It is evident from our study, that the placebo present in our Bs 2362 formulation was responsible for increasing the efficacy of Bs lyophilized toxin against resistant larvae. The putative mechanism behind this toxicity phenomenon remains to be investigated to evolve new mosquito control strategies. A cross resistance to indigenous strain of Bs B42 (H5a5b) against Bs resistant larvae was also reported in this study.