Sarita Kumar

By Sarita Kumar, Monika Mishra, Aarti Sharma and Radhika Warikoo

Chikungunya, a widely spread viral disease transmitted to human beings by Aedes aegypti, is on rise in India, Africa and Asian subcontinent since last decade. Although chemical insecticides are used at a large scale for the control of Chikungunya vector, their applications have led to several undesirable effects including insecticide resistance, revival of pests species, appearance of secondary pests, environmental pollution, noxious hazards to human beings and non-target organisms forcing investigators to explore unconventional alternate strategies. As an environment-friendly approach, there is increased attention to devise and adopt suitable methods to utilize wastes as value-added products to reduce the problem of environmental pollution. Consequently, the larvicidal and adult irritant potential of hexane and petroleum ether peel extracts of three different Citrus species, C. limetta, C. sinensis and C. Limon, were assessed against Ae. aegypti. The results showed the larvicidal potential of all the three peels, C. limetta peel extracts exhibiting the least activity. Furthermore, hexane extracts were more effective than petroleum ether extracts, C. sinensis peels hexane extract being most effectual (LC50, 39.51 ppm) while petroleum ether peels extract of C. limon was the most effective larvicide with LC50 value of 51.25 ppm. All the extracts also exhibited significant elicit response and irritant potential against adults signifying their potential role in reduced mosquito bites and disease transmission. The qualitative phytochemical analysis of the extracts showed presence of certain components suggesting their probable role in bioefficacy of extracts. Further studies are needed to isolate and identify the active ingredient to formulate strategies for mosquito control.

Part of the book: Current Topics in Chikungunya

By Sarita Kumar and Arunima Sahgal

Mosquitoes are the important global vectors transmitting diseases of human concern such as dengue, Chikungunya, Malaria, encephalitis and yellow fever, etc. Management of mosquito-borne diseases largely relies on the vector management because of the lack of effective medication and vaccination. Several strategies have been formulated and applied in the fields to control mosquitoes; yet there is a continued rise in mosquito-borne diseases leading to sufferings and morbidities. Presently, chemical interventions are the most preferred methods which has impacted human health and the environment negatively. These issues have created a demand to devise novel approaches which can be used safely and effectively for mosquito management. Thus, several innovative mosquito control interventions have been devised based on genetic, physical and behavioral modifications in mosquitoes. These strategies span from Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) Release of Insects Carrying a Dominant Lethal (RIDL), creating transgenics with abnormal and lethal genes, gene drive technology, reducing the vectorial capacity by Wolbachia infection and application of attractive toxic sugar baits (ATSB), or by lasers and light detectors to investigate their behavior, and enhance their trap and kill. This Chapter gives a comprehensive overview of the conventional, and novel and innovative techniques devised for the control of mosquito vectors.

Part of the book: Advances in Diptera

By Sarita Kumar, Aarti Sharma and Roopa Rani Samal

Agriculture is an intensive activity which is harmed by the attack of multifarious pests. Several measures have been adopted to control these pests among which the use of chemical insecticides is the most frequently used measure. Despite the effectiveness of chemical insecticides, their extensive use has led to pest resistance, their entry in food chain, biomagnification, and adverse effects on human and environmental health. This represents a significant challenge as alternative control methods, such as cultural, biological, microbial, and transgenic approaches, though safer, are often more expensive and time-consuming. Without effective pest management strategies, diverse pest populations continuously and intensively damage crops leading to significant economic losses and threatening agricultural productivity and food security. Therefore, there is a constant search for newer and safer pest control tools, which are implemented after thorough field trials. This chapter highlights the problems associated with insect pests, the potential solutions, and various agricultural practices to address the critical problem of pest management.

Part of the book: Insecticides in Pest Control