Abstract
Recently, the use of eco-friendly and biodegradable insecticides has gained great attention. The present study was concerned to evaluate the larvicidal potential of the extracts of the Red Sea sponges Xestospongia testudinaria and Amphimedon chloros and biogenic carbon nanotubes (CNTs) against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). The third instar larvae of Ae. aegypti was used to test the insecticidal activity of the methanolic extract of X. testudinaria and A. chloros. The results showed that the tested concentrations (62.5, 125, 250, and 500 ppm) of both extracts possess high and moderate larvicidal effects after 48 h of exposure. The methanolic extract of A. chloros with CNTs showed 96 % (LC50 = 15.569 ppm) mortality after 24 h of exposure. While the A. chloros, extract without CNTs, the larval mortality was 99 % (LC50 = 65.77 ppm) after 48 h of exposure. These results suggested that the synthesized biogenic CNTs can be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach for controlling A. aegypti.