Efficacy of Ethanolic Extract of Malapapaya (Polyscias nodosa) and Atis (Annona squamosa) as a Natural Larvicide Against Culex tritaeniorhynchus Mosquito Larvae

Mosquito-borne diseases remain a significant public health concern, particularly in tropical regions where environmental conditions favor mosquito breeding and rapid population growth. The increasing resistance of mosquitoes to synthetic insecticides, along with the environmental and health risks associated with chemical larvicides, has intensified the search for eco-friendly, sustainable, and locally available alternatives. This study evaluated the larvicidal efficacy of combined plant extracts from Malapapaya (Polyscias nodosa) leaves and Atis (Annona squamosa) seeds against Culex tritaeniorhynchus mosquito larvae. Ethanolic extracts of both plant materials were prepared through maceration and tested at five concentrations: 0% (control), 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%, using a controlled larvicidal bioassay under laboratory conditions. A total of 20 larvae were exposed per treatment group, and larval mortality was recorded after 24 and 48 hours of exposure. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to determine the effectiveness of each concentration. Results showed complete (100%) larval mortality in all treatment concentrations within 24 hours, while no mortality was observed in the control group. No additional mortality was recorded at 48 hours, indicating a rapid larvicidal effect immediately upon exposure to the extracts. The strong larvicidal activity observed across all tested concentrations suggests that the bioactive compounds present in P. nodosa and A. squamosa may effectively disrupt essential physiological processes in mosquito larvae. The consistency of mortality across different concentrations further indicates that even lower concentrations may be sufficient for effective mosquito control. These findings highlight the potential of combined Malapapaya and Atis extracts as eco-friendly, sustainable, and cost-effective botanical larvicides, offering a promising alternative to conventional chemical mosquito control strategies, particularly in resource-limited communities and tropical settings.