Abstract:
Abstract Laboratory study was carried out to evaluate the
repellent efficiency of most commonly known four traditional insect/mosquito repellent plants Wogert [vernacular
name (local native language, Amharic); Silene macroserene], Kebercho [vernacular name (local native language,
Amharic); Echinops sp.], Tinjut [vernacular name (local
native language, Amharic); Ostostegia integrifolia], and
Woira[vernacular name (local native language, Amharic);
Olea europaea] against Anopheles arabiensis under the
laboratory conditions. One hundred (4–5 days old) female
A. arabiensis were introduced into the both ‘control’ and
‘test’ repellent chamber through the hole on top. Traditional
charcoal stoves were used for direct burning. The experiment
was conducted by applying the smoke into the repellent “test”
mosquito cage by direct burning of 25 gm of dried plant
materials (leaves and roots) until plant materials completely
burned. The number of mosquitoes driving away from the
“test” and “control” cage was recorded for every 5 min. In the
present investigation, the results clearly revealed that the roots
of S. macroserene has potent repellent efficiency (93.61%)
and was the most effective. The leaves of Echinops sp.
(92.47%), leaves of O. integrifolia (90.10%) and O. europaea
(79.78%) were also effective. Roots of S. macroserene
exhibited the highest repellent efficiency by direct burning.
