Toxicity of Leaf Extracts of <i>Ricinus communis</i> L. (Euphorbiaceace) Against the Third Instar Larvae of <i>Musca domestica</i> L. (Diptera: Muscidae)

Abstract

The housefly, <i>Musca domestica</i> is a ubiquitous insect that has potential to spread wide variety of pathogens to humans and livestock animals leading to diseases and huge economic losses in developing countries. Flies have resisted human attempts to control them since antiquity and the problem of fly resistance to synthetic insecticides had resulted in need to develop biopesticides as an alternative management tool. Plant product are the most promising sources and under extensive trials for their insecticidal activity against various insect species. This study evaluated the efficacy of crude extracts of the castor plant <i>Ricinus communis</i> against <i>Musca domestica</i> by using dipping and thin film technique. The laboratory bioassay in both techniques resulted in considerable larval and pupal mortalities indicating toxicity of plant extract against the fly. Besides, the larval mortalities the extracts induced developmental aberrations such as reduced pupations and non emergence of adults. The results indicate that the plant extracts contain certain active principles which interfere with the hormonal control of development affecting the life cycle of the fly. It can be concluded that crude extract of <i>R. communis</i> can be effectively used as in controlling fly populations of <i>M. domestica</i> as the safer, ecofriendly and economic alternative to synthetic insecticidal agents.