Kocher, D.K.Navkiran Kaur2023-06-292023-06-292022Navkiran Kaur (2022). Integration of Mesocyclops aspericornis and plant based products for the control of Aedes aegypti larvae (Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810197854Aedes aegypti is responsible for the spread of various public health diseases. Oils from neem seed kernels and eucalyptus leaves were extracted in laboratory and their larvicidal, ovicidal and pupicidal efficacy was tested. Testing different concentrations of neem oil @ 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 ppm and eucalyptus oil nanoemulsion @ 50, 60 and 70 ppm revealed 400 ppm and 70 ppm respectively as the effective concentration against Ae. aegypti larvae (Ist and IInd instars taken collectively). Ovicidal efficacy test indicated that neem oil @ 300 ppm and eucalyptus oil nanoemulsion @ 70 ppm inhibit 100% egg emergence. Exposure to different concentrations of both plant based oils also showed significant pupal mortality irrespective of the sex. Studies of predatory potential of Mesocyclops aspericornis was conducted by using copepods and larvae in different ratios @ 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 which indicated the combination @ 1:3 was effective combination. The predatory potential of M. aspericornis was found to enhance after the integration with prepared oils like M. aspericornis: Ae. aegypti (1:2) + 200 ppm neem oil and M. aspericornis: Ae. aegypti (1:2) + 60 ppm eucalyptus oil nanoemulsion both under laboratory and simulated conditions, also it improved the predation success and predatory behaviour of M. aspericornis. Biochemical studies indicated that exposure to sub lethal combinations of M. aspericornis and extracted plant based oils significantly reduced the total soluble proteins and activity of α-amylase in the larvae of treated sets. Moreover, exposing Ae. aegypti larvae to sub lethal combinations of M. aspericornis and plant based oils increased the duration of total development period along with significant reduction in body size of both male and female as in comparison to control set. Larvicidal efficacy retention of effective combination trails i.e M. aspericornis : Ae. aegypti (1:2) + 200 ppm neem oil and M. aspericornis : Ae. aegypti (1:2) + 60 ppm eucalyptus oil nanoemulsion was effective for 19 and 12 days, respectively.EnglishThesis