Arianne Sophia B.

Bonifacio Module 5

9-Generosity

Self-Assessment Question 5.1

I.

2.

4.

5.

6.

II.

1.T

2.F

3.F

4.T

5.F

Your Task:

Research Title: Carolina Cayenne Pepper (Capsicum annum) and Calamansi (Citrofortunella Microcarpa)
peel extract as an alternative larvicide in mosquito control.

Mosquitoes are a key threat for millions of people worldwide (Benelli,2015). Mosquitoes act as a
vector for most of the life-threatening diseases like malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, chikungunya
fever, filariasis, encephalitis, West Nile virus infection, etc. (Ghosh,. Et.Al, 2012). As a result, people
engage in different methods to control the population of mosquitoes, namely, chemical insecticides.

A chemical insecticide is indeed efficient in killing mosquitoes, but the continuous application of
synthetic insecticides causes the development of resistance in vector species, biological magnification of
toxic substances through food chain, and adverse effects on the environmental quality and non-target
organisms including human health (Ghosh,et.Al.,2012). However, the easiest way to prevent the
diseases caused by mosquito vectors is by applying larvicides to their breeding places, because
mosquitoes at a larval stage are easier to locate and eliminate before they emerge into adults.
 The methods mentioned are not only expensive but also have an aftereffect on humans, animals
and the environment. It also requires time and labor and is unavailable to schools with simple
laboratories because the process of the project must be carried out in a laboratory with complete
equipment.

In this project, the investigator will conduct experiments in mosquito larvae to develop a less toxic,
cheap and efficient product in controlling the population of mosquitoes. It is assumed that the Carolina
Cayenne pepper (Capsicum annum) and calamansi (Citrofortunella microcarpa) peel extract can
eliminate mosquito larvae because Carolina cayenne pepper is composed of an active ingredient called
capsaicin, a chemical that disrupts the nerve signals as well as damages membranes in insect bodies. On
the other hand, calamansi peel contains large amounts of limonene, a chemical that acts upon the
insect’s sensory cells. The effectivity of the concentrations can be measured in terms of the mortality of
the mosquito larvae.