Student creates insecticide from plants that blocks the development of mosquito larvae (and diseases like Dengue and zika)

Student creates a low-cost natural insecticide that blocks the development of mosquito larvae, useful for poorer areas.

Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerous

Le mosquitoes in some cases they can really be lethal, it is the case of the Aedes Aegypti, the so-called yellow fever mosquito, which still broadcasts dengue, zika and chikungunya today. Unfortunately, the larvae of this insect continue to populate the waters of different places and fighting them is really difficult. But perhaps the solution is upon us: one student has indeed discovered a insecticide based on Neem seed extract able block the development of larvae.

THEinsecticide, handmade, was formulated by Layse Emanuelle Reis of the State University of Feira de Santana to offer a cheap alternative to fight mosquitoes in the poorest areas of Santo Amaro (BA), where people often store water in makeshift docks, as she discovered while working at the Zoonoses Control Center in the city of Bahia.

The test to verify its effectiveness was carried out using tree leaves and fruit, both dried in the oven at 40 ° C for 48 hours. The fruits were then removed from the seeds, brought to the greenhouse twice more. Both the leaves and the ground seeds were diluted with distilled water, creating two separate solutions. The leaf extract was not particularly effective in fighting Aedes Aegypti larvae, but mixing the seeds caused more than 75% mortality to the larvae.

Student creates insecticide from plants that blocks the development of mosquito larvae (and diseases like Dengue and zika)

The student, in this regard, stated:

“The higher the concentration of seeds, the higher the mortality and the better the result”.

Although it was already known that neem oil kills mosquito larvae, the domestic production of the seed extract is amuch cheaper alternative to the purchase of vegetable oil. It is therefore suitable for the most disadvantaged areas.

Student creates insecticide from plants that blocks the development of mosquito larvae (and diseases like Dengue and zika)

According to Gilberto Mendonça, Layse's adviser, the impact of neem on the larvae is due to azadirachtina, an insecticidal compound present throughout the plant, but with a high concentration in the seeds. This substance inhibits the nutritional power of insects by hindering the development of the larvae between the third and fourth stages of their transformation into adult mosquitoes:

"Azadirachtin works by interfering with the functioning of the endocrine glands that control metamorphosis, preventing development in the larval stage".

The only drawback is that neem is also lethal for bees, which is why the seed-based domestic insecticide must still be used for domestic purposes, in order to avoid unwanted massacres.