Lethal action of Argemone mexicana L. extracts against Culex quinquefasciatus Say larvae and Tribolium castaneum (Hbst.) adults

Abstract

Petroleum ether (Pet. Ether), Chloroform (CHCl3) and Methanol (CH3OH) extracts of Argemone mexicana L. were tested against adult beetles of Tribolium castaneum (Hbst.) and larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus Say through dose mortality assay. The seed extracts of Pet. Ether, CHCl3 and CH3OH were found active against adult beetles of T. castaneum and the LD50 values were 0.608, 0.428, 0.293, 0.192mg cm-2; 1.261, 0.394, 0.241, 0.198, 0.194mg cm-2; and 1.481, 1.212, 1.171, 1.099mg cm-2 after 1h, 6h, 12h, 18h; 1h, 6h, 12h, 18h, 24h and 12h, 18h, 24h, 30h of exposures respectively. The Pet. Ether extracts of seeds, aerial parts and roots were found active against C. quinquefasciatus larvae while the LC50 values were 503.161, 416.131, 355.398ppm; 621.789, 482.021, 387.385ppm and 694.589, 681.68, 628.119ppm after 6h, 12h and 18h of exposures respectively. The CHCl3 extract of the same materials with the same exposures yielded LC50 values 950.604, 576.184 and 416.131ppm; 723.351, 637.999 and 621.789ppm and 694.589, 681.68 and 628.119ppm; while the CH3OH extract yielded 950.604, 573.566 and 202.692ppm; 1431.852, 568.67 and 443.338ppm and 1465.043, 664.251 and 533.927ppm respectively.