Field evaluation of Bacillus cereus VCRC B540 for mosquitocidal activity - A new report

A major challenge to control the vector mosquitoes and their diseases. The discovery of bacteria like Bacillus sphaericus Neide (Bs) and B. thuringiensis serovar israelensis de Barjac (Bti), which are highly toxic to dipterans larvae, have opened up the possibility of their use as potential bio-larvicides in mosquito eradication programmes the world over. These bacteria have some important advantages over conventional insecticides in mosquito control operations, besides being safe for non-target organisms including human beings. But, the recent researchers have been reported mosquito resistant against these biological agents. Bacillus cereus VCRC B540 is one of the most potential bio-pesticides which were isolated from the gut contents of the marine fish (Lutjanuas sanguineus) collected in east coastal zone of the Bay of Bengal (Union Territory of Pondicherry, India) to control Culex, Anopheles and followed by Aedes species. The isolated strain was confirmed as Bacillus cereus based on the biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA gene sequence. The larvicidal activity of B. cereus VCRC B540 was further characterized.