Bio-larvicide Mosquito larvae are generally killed using synthetic insecticides, which are very detrimental to environment. However, development of eco-friendly mosquito larvicides would be a positive approach to maintain sustainable eco- environment. The lab has isolated a potential entomopathogenic soil bacteria, Bacillus sphaericus and developed a mosquito biolarvicides of 10% powder formulation using this bacteria. The identified bacteria act on mosquito larvae through its paraporal crystal delta endotoxin. The endotoxin acts on mid-gut epithelium causing disintegration of gut wall, cessation of feeding activity, starvation and leakage of gut contents into haemolymph and body cavity of the mosquito larvae causing paralysis and death. Recommended dose for field use is
200-500 gm/ha to be sprayed uniformly over the water surface of mosquito breeding site with Knapsack sprayer. Spheritox is a biological larvicide based on highly effective strain of Bacillus sphaericus GC Subgp. IV isolated from mosquito breeding habitat. The bacillus isolates were inoculated in growth media and incubated for 48 hrs and the biomass harvested was lyophllized and thoroughly mixed with filler inert material at the ratio of 1:10 and used as water dispersible powder 10%WDP. This innovation acts as a stomach poison and shows high larval
mortality than other commercial formulations available in the market.