Effect of Fruit and Leaves of Meliaceae Plants (Azadirachta indica and Melia azedarach) on the Development of Lutzomyia longipalpis Larvae (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) Under Experimental Conditions

• Published in: Journal of medical entomology Vol. 46; no. 5; pp. 1125 - 1130
• Main Authors: Andrade-Coelho, Claudia A, Souza, Nataly A, Gouveia, Cheryl, Silva, Vanderlei C, Gonzalez, Marcelo S, Rangel, Elizabeth F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.09.2009
• Subjects: Animals; antifeedants; Azadirachta; Azadirachta indica; developmental stages; dietary exposure; ecdysis; Fruit; fruits (plant anatomy); hematophagous insects; insect development; insect pests; insect vectors; insecticidal properties; Larva - drug effects; Larva - growth & development; larvae; leaves; Lutzomyia longipalpis; medicinal plants; Melia azedarach; Metamorphosis, Biological - drug effects; mortality; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Leaves; Psychodidae - drug effects; Psychodidae - growth & development
• ISSN: 0022-2585; 1938-2928
• DOI: 10.1603/033.046.0520

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.