Toxicity of Alkanes and Alkenes to Pre-Imaginal Stages of the Yellow-Fever Mosquito1

Overcrowding factors of mosquito larvae. VII. Preparation and biological activity of methyloctadecanes and methylnonadecanes against mosquito larvae

“…Heptadecane and octadecane were found in the overcrowded cultures of mosquito larvae (Ikeshoji and Mulla, 1974). By topical and surface applications, Quraishi and Thorsteinson (1967) evaluated straight-chain alkanes and alkenes having 7-16 carbon atoms, but the dosages employed were extremely high (5 µ1/10 ml for surface application), much higher than the rates used in our studies on branchedand straight-chain alkanes.…”

“…Moreover, the rates of application for satisfactory control of mosquitoes are quite high. Quraishi and Thorsteinson (1967) investigated toxicity of several pure alkanes and alkenes (both ranging from C7 to Cis) against Aedes aegypti (L.) larvae and found that nonene was the only one which gave high mortality of larvae and pupae at the very high dosage of 500 ppm.…”

Toxic and Teratogenic Effects of Esters of Saturated and Unsaturated Fatty Acids on House Fly Larvae (Diptera: Muscidae)

“…There seem to be some unusual effects on immature insects of straight chain chemicals containing 13 or more carbon atoms in the chain. Quraishi and Thorsteinson (1967) reported that Aedes aegypti larvae treated with alkanes or alkenes of chain lengths of 13 carbon atoms or more showed a tendency to hang vertically from the surface of water with their bodies slightly curved, the dorsal surface being convex, whereas the normal larva makes an acute angle with the horizontal with its body held straight. Quraishi (1972) observed that larvae of Aedes aegypti treated with ethyl pentadecanoate and ethyl hexadecanoate exhibited a similar behavior.…”

“…In previous papers (Quraishi 1971 ;Quraishi and Thorsteinson 1965) the effects of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids on larvae of the house fly, Musca domestica L., have been described. Quraishi (1972) also reported upon the physiological interactions of n-saturated and trans-Z-unsaturated fatty acids and their esters with pre-imaginal stages of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti L .…”

“…Our own investigations (Quraishi 1971(Quraishi , 1972Quraishi and Thorsteinson 1965) which suggested selective toxicity of these chemicals, and the paucity of literature on the interaction of insects with a homologous series of methyl and ethyl esters of fatty acids, induced us to investigate the response of the house fly larva to these esters.…”