Novel Mosquito Control: A Natural approach to Reducing and Repelling Mosquito Populations

School Name

Spring Valley High School

Grade Level

10th Grade

Presentation Topic

Environmental Science

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Written Paper Award

1st Place

Abstract

Mosquitoes are considered one of the most dangerous animals around the world, causing over 725,000 deaths globally per year. They are a major concern to human health because they can serve as vectors to pass agents that cause diseases, such as malaria, yellow fever, the Zika virus, and the West Nile virus, among many others. While many of these diseases can be cured, they can cause a multitude of harmful side effects, such as seizures, coma, conjunctivitis, and death. Different commercial mosquitocidal agents exist, but the overuse of them have caused mosquitoes to develop resistance, as well as causing harm to humans and the environment. To help prevent resistance, natural extracts could be used to repel or kill mosquitoes. The purpose of this experiment is to test various plant extracts for their effectiveness in acting as larvicides, insecticides, and repellents against Culex quinquefasciatus. It was hypothesized that if Chrysanthemum coccineum (chrysanthemums), Trachyspermum ammi (ajwain), and Nymphaea odorata (white water lily) were tested as natural insecticides, larvicides, and repellents, and VectoBac 12AS, permethrin, and DEET were tested as commercial mosquitocides and repellents, VectoBac 12AS, DEET, and permethrin would be the most effective as larvicides, repellents, and insecticides, respectively. T. ammi would be the most naturally effective larvicide, insecticide and repellent, followed by C. coccineum and N. odorata. For the purpose of this experiment, the essential oils from the leaves of Chrysanthemum coccineum, Trachyspermum ammi, and Nymphaea odorata were extracted through steam distillation; these oils served as the natural treatments. Culex quinquefasciatus were used as the model mosquito. To test the larvicides, 20 L4 larvae were placed in 10 mL of water, and 1 uL of the extract was added to the water. Mortality was observed. To test the insecticides, 250 mL bottles were coated with a stock solution of ethanol and the extract. Mosquitoes were introduced to the bottles and the mortality was observed. To test the repellents, mosquitoes were introduced to a tube with filter paper on one end and filter paper soaked in an extract on the other end. Movement of the mosquitoes was observed. For the larvicide and insecticide data, repeated measures ANOVAs were conducted, and since p<0.001, it was concluded for both that there was a significant difference in the data (F(10,1085)=18.21, F(4,1085)=75.70, p<0.001, F(10,1085)=18.44, F(4,1085)=76.83, p<0.001). Interaction plots showed there was no correlation between time and treatment. One way ANOVAs showed that there was a significant difference between treatments (F(4,95)=15.34, p<0.001, F(4,95)=19.61, p<0.001). Post-hoc Tukey tests found that there was a significant difference in mortality ajwain and chrysanthemum, ajwain and lily, ajwain and control, chrysanthemum and permethrin, lily and permethrin, the control and permethrin, chrysanthemum and VectoBac 12AS, lily and VectoBac 12AS, and the control and VectoBac 12AS. For the repellent, a one way ANOVA conducted found that there was a significant difference between 2 or more of the treatments (F(4,95)=4.65, p=0.002). A post-hoc Tukey test showed that there was a significant difference between the ajwain and control, chrysanthemum and control, lily and control, and DEET and control. Thus, the hypothesis was partially supported as VectoBac 12AS, DEET, permethrin, and ajwain were the most effective as larvicides, insecticides, and repellents, but C. coccineum was less effective than N. odorata. Ajwain would be an effective larvicide, insecticide, and repellent, while the chrysanthemum and lily would be effective repellents, and if they were refined, could be used commercially.

Location

Wall 206

Start Date

3-25-2017 2:00 PM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 25th, 2:00 PM

Novel Mosquito Control: A Natural approach to Reducing and Repelling Mosquito Populations

Wall 206

Mosquitoes are considered one of the most dangerous animals around the world, causing over 725,000 deaths globally per year. They are a major concern to human health because they can serve as vectors to pass agents that cause diseases, such as malaria, yellow fever, the Zika virus, and the West Nile virus, among many others. While many of these diseases can be cured, they can cause a multitude of harmful side effects, such as seizures, coma, conjunctivitis, and death. Different commercial mosquitocidal agents exist, but the overuse of them have caused mosquitoes to develop resistance, as well as causing harm to humans and the environment. To help prevent resistance, natural extracts could be used to repel or kill mosquitoes. The purpose of this experiment is to test various plant extracts for their effectiveness in acting as larvicides, insecticides, and repellents against Culex quinquefasciatus. It was hypothesized that if Chrysanthemum coccineum (chrysanthemums), Trachyspermum ammi (ajwain), and Nymphaea odorata (white water lily) were tested as natural insecticides, larvicides, and repellents, and VectoBac 12AS, permethrin, and DEET were tested as commercial mosquitocides and repellents, VectoBac 12AS, DEET, and permethrin would be the most effective as larvicides, repellents, and insecticides, respectively. T. ammi would be the most naturally effective larvicide, insecticide and repellent, followed by C. coccineum and N. odorata. For the purpose of this experiment, the essential oils from the leaves of Chrysanthemum coccineum, Trachyspermum ammi, and Nymphaea odorata were extracted through steam distillation; these oils served as the natural treatments. Culex quinquefasciatus were used as the model mosquito. To test the larvicides, 20 L4 larvae were placed in 10 mL of water, and 1 uL of the extract was added to the water. Mortality was observed. To test the insecticides, 250 mL bottles were coated with a stock solution of ethanol and the extract. Mosquitoes were introduced to the bottles and the mortality was observed. To test the repellents, mosquitoes were introduced to a tube with filter paper on one end and filter paper soaked in an extract on the other end. Movement of the mosquitoes was observed. For the larvicide and insecticide data, repeated measures ANOVAs were conducted, and since p<0.001, it was concluded for both that there was a significant difference in the data (F(10,1085)=18.21, F(4,1085)=75.70, p<0.001, F(10,1085)=18.44, F(4,1085)=76.83, p<0.001). Interaction plots showed there was no correlation between time and treatment. One way ANOVAs showed that there was a significant difference between treatments (F(4,95)=15.34, p<0.001, F(4,95)=19.61, p<0.001). Post-hoc Tukey tests found that there was a significant difference in mortality ajwain and chrysanthemum, ajwain and lily, ajwain and control, chrysanthemum and permethrin, lily and permethrin, the control and permethrin, chrysanthemum and VectoBac 12AS, lily and VectoBac 12AS, and the control and VectoBac 12AS. For the repellent, a one way ANOVA conducted found that there was a significant difference between 2 or more of the treatments (F(4,95)=4.65, p=0.002). A post-hoc Tukey test showed that there was a significant difference between the ajwain and control, chrysanthemum and control, lily and control, and DEET and control. Thus, the hypothesis was partially supported as VectoBac 12AS, DEET, permethrin, and ajwain were the most effective as larvicides, insecticides, and repellents, but C. coccineum was less effective than N. odorata. Ajwain would be an effective larvicide, insecticide, and repellent, while the chrysanthemum and lily would be effective repellents, and if they were refined, could be used commercially.