Entomofaunal diversity of tree hole mosquitoes in Western and Eastern Ghats hill ranges of Tamilnadu, India.

The distribution and abundance of various mosquito vectors is important in the determination of disease prevalence in disease endemic areas. The aim of the present study was to conduct regular entomological surveillance and to determine the relative abundance of tree hole mosquito species in Tamilnadu, India. In addition to this, the impact of weather-conditions on tree hole mosquito population were evaluated between June, 2014 and May, 2015.

Isolation and identification of antibacterial compound from the leaves of Cassia auriculata.

Objectives: Antimicrobial properties of medicinal plants and plant parts such as flowers, roots, fruits, seeds and oils are being used to cure some chronic and acute diseases throughout the world. In the present study, an attempt has been made to isolate and identify the antibacterial compound present in the leaves of the Cassia auriculata.

Materials And Methods: A preliminary screening of antibacterial activity was carried out with fine different plant extracts viz.

Antibacterial activity of Acalypha indica L.

Hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts from the leaves of Acalypha indica were tested against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus cereus, Streptococcus faecalis) and Gram-negative (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria. All the extracts exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram-positive organisms with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) between 0.156 to 2.

Larvicidal effect of extracellular secondary metabolites of different fungi against the mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus Say.

The culture filtrates of five different soil fungi viz., Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, Penicillium falicum, Fusarium vasinfectum and Trichoderma viride were tested for the larvicidal activity against third instar larvae of mosquito vector Culex quinquefasciatus. The concentrations of fungal culture filtrates used in the study ranged from 25 to 100 mg/L.