Larvicidal Activities of Different Parts of Artemisia vulgaris Linn. against Culex quinquefasciatus Say. (Diptera: Culicidae)

The plant Artemisia vulgaris is a perennial weed, belongs to the family Asteraceae, and locally known as Tarkha in Dir and Swat regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K.P.K), Pakistan. The present study aimed to evaluate the larvicidal activity of methanol extracts of roots, stem and leaves of Artemisia vulgaris against Culex quinquefasciatus. The 3 and 4 instars larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus were exposed for 24 hours to various concentrations (50, 100, 500, 1000, and 1500 ppm) of methanol extracts of different parts of Artemisia vulgaris. The leaves extract resulted in significantly higher (P<0.05) mortality when compared to the mortality caused by the root and stem extracts. The LC50 value for roots extract was 9141.0 ppm, stem extract 2224.2 ppm and leaves extract 803.2 ppm. The findings of the present study presented the methanol extract of the leaves of Artemisia vulgaris as a good source of preparations for pest control especially mosquito control.