Activity of a selective insecticide (methoxyfenozide) against two mosquito species (Culex pipiens and Culiseta longiareolata): toxicological, biometrical and biochemical study

Abstract

Methoxyfenozide is an insect growth disruptor belonging to the class of nonsteroidal ecdysone agonists. In the present study, methoxyfenozide (23% emulsifiable concentrate) is evaluated against newly molted fourth‐instar larvae of Culex pipiens L. and Culiseta longiareolata Macquart (Diptera: Culicidae), aiming to investigate its possible effects on growth and development. Larvae are exposed for 24 h under standard laboratory conditions in accordance with World Health Organization recommendations. The product is found to exhibit insecticidal activity against the two tested mosquito species with a concentration–response relationship. Moreover, based on the lethal concentrations determined, methoxyfenozide is slightly more toxic against C. pipiens than C. longiareolata. Furthermore, fourth‐instar larva of the two mosquito species are treated using two lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC90) of methoxyfenozide, and then individual survivals (larvae, pupae and adults) from larval treatment are subjected to a biometrical and biochemical study. The compound is found to interfere with growth by reducing the larval and pupal development duration. Moreover, the body volume and the main biochemical contents (proteins, carbohydrates and lipids) from different stages are affected. The overall results suggest that the ecdysone agonist under investigation interferes with the development process and has potential for mosquito control.

Larvicidal and Biochemical Effects of Some Essential Oils and Bee Products Against Culex pipiens Larvae (Diptera: Culicidae)

“…This may be because of the larvicidal interference between plant extracts and hormones that regulates protein synthesis (Vijayaraghavan et al, 2010;Sharma et al, 2011). Similar to our findings, treatment with Ocimum basilicum oil decreased protein content; which may be because of the degradation of proteins or the inhibition of its synthesis (Dris et al, 2017), treatment by Origanum glandulosum oil (Bouguerra & Boukoucha, 2021) and also treatment by methoxyfenozide (Hamaidia et al, 2018).…”

Chemical screening, insecticidal and reprotoxic activities of Tecoma stans ethanolic leaf extract against the vector mosquito Culex pipiens

“…Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae were obtained from a stock colony of the Laboratory of Applied Animal Biology and kept as described previously by Hamaidia et al (2018). Briefly, larvae were reared under laboratory conditions of temperature (25–27°C), light cycle (10 h darkness and 14 h light), and humidity (75%–85%) in containers (150 ml of tap dechlorinated water).…”

“…After treatment of newly eclosed fourth instar larvae for 24 h, newly emerged adults were collected from treated series for biochemical analyses as well from control ones. Lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins were extracted (Shibko et al, 1966) and quantified as previously described (Hamaidia et al, 2018). Briefly, samples ( n = 10; adults <3 h) were weighed and extracted in 1 ml of trichloroacetic acid (20%).…”

“…The scale of this situation emphasizes the insufficiency of the current approaches, and new further inroads must be involved to switch from chemical‐based insecticides to non‐conventional control methods. To achieve the expected objectives, various intervention policies and strategies are based on integrated measures such as insect growth disruptors (Hamaidia et al, 2018; Hamaidia & Soltani, 2014; Hamaidia & Soltani, 2016; Hamaidia & Soltani, 2019, 2020) or biopesticides (Bouguerra et al, 2018; Bouzidi et al, 2020; Draouet et al, 2020; Dris et al, 2017).…”

Composition of volatile compounds in male and female Tenebrio molitor and Leptinotarsa decemlineata before and after the application of insecticides

“…In order to reduce the number of harmful insects and their reproduction, chemistry insecticidal spraying is often used (Rose & Leathers 2006;Engindeniz & Yücel Engindeniz 2006;Sauphanor et al, 2007;Laznik et al, 2010;Hamaidia et al, 2018; Abstract Some insects can be used as food, while others can affect the destruction of crops and the reduction of food reserves. The studies described in this article showed quantitative and qualitative changes in the composition of volatile compounds contained in adult Tenebrio molitor and Leptinotarsa decemlineata insects after applying insecticides.…”