Biolarvicidal and pupicidal activity of Acalypha alnifolia Klein ex Willd. (Family: Euphorbiaceae) leaf extract and Microbial insecticide, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) against malaria fever mosquito, Anopheles stephensi Liston. (Diptera: Culicidae).

The present study was to establish of Acalypha alnifolia leaf extract and microbial insecticide, Metarizhium anisopliae on larvicidal and pupicidal properties of against the malaria fever mosquito, Anopheles stephensi. The leaf extract showed larvicidal and pupicidal effects after 24 h of exposure; however, the highest larval and pupal mortality was found in the leaf extract of ethanol A. alnifolia against the 1st to 4th instar larvae and pupae of values LC(50) value of 1st instar was 5.388%, 2nd instar was 6.233%, 3rd instar was 6.884%, 4th instar was 8.594%, and pupae was 10.073%, respectively, and microbial insecticide, M. anisopliae against the 1st to 4th instar larvae and pupae of values LC(50) value of 1st instar was 7.917%, 2nd instar was 10.734%, 3rd instar was 17.624%, 4th instar was 26.590%, and pupae was 37.908%, respectively. Moreover, combined treatment of values of LC(50) value of 1st instar was 3.557%, 2nd instar was 4.373%, 3rd instar was 5.559%, 4th instar was 7.223%, and pupae was 8.542%, respectively. No mortality was observed in the control. The results that the leaves extract of A. alnifolia and microbial insecticide, M. anisopliae is promising as good larvicidal and pupicidal properties of against malaria fever mosquito, A. stephensi. This is an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of malarial vector, A. stephensi as a vector control programs. Therefore, this study provides first report on the combined effect of mosquitocidal efficacy of this plant extract and fungal pathogen of M. anisopliae against A. stephensi from Southern India.