Effect of Fruit and Leaves of Meliaceae Plants (Azadirachta indicaandMelia azedarach) on the Development ofLutzomyia longipalpisLarvae (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) Under Experimental Conditions

Abstract

This no-choice, laboratory study focuses on the feeding of dried, ground, homogeneous powdered, unprocessed fruit and leaves of Azadirachta indica and Melia azedarach to Lutzomyia longipalpis larvae to determine the effects on their mortality and metamorphosis. A. indica and M. azedarach fruit and leaves significantly increased larval mortality in comparison to larvae fed the untreated, standard diet. A. indica fruit and leaves blocked the molting of the larvae to the fourth instar, resulting in them remaining as third instars until the end of the experiment. M. azedarach fruit also blocked the molting of larvae, which remained permanently in the fourth instar. Feeding M. azedarach leaves resulted in greater molt inhibition. All insects in this group stopped their development as second-instar larvae. No antifeedant effect was detected for any experimental treatment. The results indicate that nontoxic, unprocessed materials obtained from A. indica and M. azedarach are potent development inhibitors of L. longipalpis larvae.

Study on natural breeding sites of sand flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) in areas of Leishmania transmission in Colombia

“…Control of larvae in soil habitats may also be achieved with organic insecticidal (soil fertilizers), such as Neem oil-cakes (contains Azadirachtin) potentially useful to kill sand fly larvae [ 15 , 66 ]. Alternatively, Argemone mexicana L. has been shown to produce organic acids on decomposition and can be used to treat alkaline soils (reduce soil pH) [ 13 ], which might help in preventing vector breeding, and be a useful alternative to chemical insecticides for sand fly control.…”

Plant Extracts, Isolated Phytochemicals, and Plant-Derived Agents Which Are Lethal to Arthropod Vectors of Human Tropical Diseases - A Review

“…indica fruit extracts totally prevented third instars from moulting, thus resulting in no fourth instars. Feeding M. azedarach fruit totally prevented fourth instars of L. longipalpis from moulting (100 % mortality) while feeding leaves of M. azedarach totally prevented moulting of second instars (100 % mortality) [91]. Also, direct spraying of Eucalyptus spp.…”

Effects of Azadirachtin on the Biology ofLutzomyia longipalpis(Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) Adult Female, the Main Vector of American Visceral Leishmaniasis

“…A. indica fruit and leaves blocked the molting of insects, which remained as third-instar larvae until the end of the experiment. M. azedarach fruit also blocked the molting of larvae, which remained permanently in the fourth instar (Andrade-Coelho et al 2009). …”