LARVICIDAL ACTIVITY OF CALOTROPIS PROCERAMEDIATED SILVER NANOPARTICLES AGAINST TWO POPULATIONS OF AEDES AEGYPTI

INTRODUCTION. Mosquito-borne diseases remain a serious global public health concern, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable and environmentally friendly vector control tools. Conventional chemical insecticides, although widely used, raise concerns due to environmental impact and reduced effectiveness associated with the development of resistance. In this study, green silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using Calotropis procera leaf extract and evaluated for their larvicidal activity against two populations of Aedes aegypti (New Orleans and Botswana). MATERIALS AND METHODS. Nanoparticle synthesis and characterization were confirmed by UV–Vis, FTIR, XRD, SEM, and EDX analyses. A characteristic absorption peak at 424 nm confirmed AgNP formation, while FTIR spectra indicated the presence of functional groups involved in nanoparticle reduction and stabilization. The synthesized AgNPs were predominantly spherical, with an average size of 25.4 nm. Larvicidal bioassays were conducted on third-instar larvae at concentrations ranging from 6.25 to 400 ppm for 72 h. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION. The nanoparticles exhibited dose-dependent larvicidal activity, with LC₅₀ values of 21.37 ppm and 20.01 ppm against the New Orleans and Botswana populations, respectively. The comparable efficacy observed across geographically distinct populations highlights the potential of these nanoparticles as a robust tool for mosquito control under diverse ecological conditions. Overall, the results indicate that C. procera-mediated AgNPs represent a promising eco-friendly larvicidal candidate for mosquito vector control.