ABSTRACT
Larvicidal activities of mycosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against filarial vector Culex quinquefasciatus was studied. The AgNPs synthesized by fungus Aspergillus niger, characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. Further laboratory evaluation of fungus-mediated nanoparticles against larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus was conducted. The characterization studies confirmed the spherical to roughly spherical shape and size (10 ± 1 nm) of silver nanoparticles. The efficacy of mycosynthesized AgNPs was tested at concentrations of 2, 4, 6, and 8 ppm against first, second, third, and fourth instar larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus. Thereafter, larval mortality was recorded after different hours of treatment (1, 8, 16, and 24 hours). These findings support use of fungus-synthesized silver nanoparticles as a rapid, ecofriendly, and a single-step approach and potential mosquito larvicidal agent.
