WATERMOLDS - POTENTIAL BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL AGENTS OF MALARIA VECTOR ANOPHELES CULICIFACIES

Leptolegnia caudata and Aphanomyces laevis (Saprolegniales: Oomycetes) were found for the first time as naturally occurring parasites of mos quito larvae, causing high mortality in Anopheles culicifacies larvae. Artificial inoculation under laboratory condition revealed L. caudata more pathogenic, caused 100% mortality within 7 days of inoculation a s compared to A. laevis (70% mortality after 10 days). None of these i s pathogenic to any crop and have no toxic effect on aquatic fauna, an d thus, can be proposed as mosquito control agents, alternative to che mical insecticides. Mass culture of these pathogens, preferably L. cau data can be applied in major larval habitats for long term, non-hazard ous, economically sustainable control of malarial vector A. culicifaci es, thereby malarial transmission.