Thousands of entomopathogenic fungi are in existence, unexploited and it is important to identify and use for biocontrol of mosquito larva. The aim of this study was to determine the larvicidal efficacy of newly identified entomopathogenic fungi. Soil samples were taken from three different locations in a farmland at Osun State University (UNIOSUN),Osogbo, Nigeria for isolation and identification of entomopathogenic fungi and test its larvicidal effect on mosquito larvae.  The samples were analyzed using spread plate technique which include serial dilution of samples, inoculation on prepared Saboraud Dextrose Agar using three dilutions (10-¹, 10-³, 10-¹⁰) and incubation at 27⁰c for 72 hours after which the plates were examined for growth followed by sub-culturing. Mosquito larvae were breeded, picked into sterile distilled water in Petri dishes. The spores of the fungi were scraped on the larva to determine the larvicidal effect of the fungal isolates at varied interval: 40 minutes, 2 hours, 24hours, and 48hours. A total of seven fungi were isolated two (Aspegillus flavus and Aspergillus niger) of which were able to show larvicidal effect on mosquito larvae. Some larvae died at exactly 40 minutes of inoculation when tested with Aspergillus niger, some took hours (48hours) while others remain viable. This study concludes that Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus isolated from soil samples exhibited biolarvicidal efficacy against mosquito larvae and the mortality rate increases with time of exposure. Entomopathogenic fungi should therefore be explored for control of mosquitoes in our environment.

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Adeyemi Temitayo Adeyemo

Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria