On Capric Acid and Potassium Capricate as Mosquito Larvicides in Laboratory and Field

Abstract

Can. Ent. 103: 1435-1440 (1971) For 100% mortality, concentrations of potassium capricate, 0.0009 to 0.005 M, are very effective insecticides against Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus), particularly larvae, in the laboratory (23.0Oo~0.1"C) within 1 to 5 days. And likewise potassium capricate, 0.001 to 0.002 M, and variously applied capric acid per se are effective against native mosquitoes in water pools in th-field (5"-16°C). With dosage-mortality tests of potassium capricate in the laboratory, larval mortality in A. aegypti was directly dependent on concentration, time, and age, tolerance increasing with age of the larvae. Although pupae seemed little affected, about 60% of the adults formed died during eclosion in 0.003 to 0.005 M mostly within 3 days. Admittedly these substances kill fish, crustaceans, and other insects, but in the field, treated pools soon regained living inhabitants. Some evidence shows that capric acid may be the least liable to endanger fish. Advantageous properties of these long-recognized insecticides include that both kill mosquitoes, both are easily biodegraded to harmless simple components, and both are readily metabolized by mammals.

The Application of Entomopathogenic Fungi Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana, and Trichoderma harzianum for Coptotermes curvignathus and Cryptotermes cynocephalus Termite Control in Indonesia

“…Capric acid has been used in botanical products for the control of mosquitoes to interrupt disease transmission and is known to cause mortality in mosquito populations (Maw and House, 2012). It has also been indicated as one of the safer options for insecticides that would not endanger nontarget species like fish (Hikal et al, 2017;Zhang et al, 2022).…”

Sampling the Egg Population

“…From field trials testing the larvicidal properties of n-capric (decanoic) acid on mosquitoes (Maw & House, 1971) it was discovered that the acid eventually turned pools into abnormally attractive oviposition sites (Maw, 1970). The acid acted as a 'fertiliser' to bacteria of the family Pseudomonodaceae which then generated certain properties that proved to be attractive to gravid mosquitoes.…”

PHYSIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS OF N-SATURATED AND UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS AND THEIR ESTERS WITH PRE-IMAGINAL STAGES OF AEDES AEGYPTI (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

“…Saxena and Thorsteinson ( 197 1 ) have also reported upon the interesting effects of "queen substance" and its analogs on the yellow-fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti (L). Quraishi (1971Quraishi ( , 1972 described the toxic and teratogenic effects of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and their esters on the house fly, Musca dornestica L. Maw and House (1971) indicated the use of capric acid and potassium capricate as mosquito larvicides.…”