Formulation and preparation of aerosol using garlic oil and its insecticidal effects on crawling and flying insects

Mosquitoes, houseflies and cockroaches pose significant public health threat owning to their ability to mechanically transmit human intestinal parasites. A more effective way of controlling the diseases carrying vector is spraying the breeding sites, homes, with insecticides which contain as active ingredients organochlorides and carbamates. Ruijten. The effects of the aerosol on flying and Crawling insects most especially mosquitoes, Houseflies and Cockroaches was investigated. About 25.8 mls of oil was extracted from the 20.5kg of garlic. The specific gravity and saponification value of the extracted oil was 0.892g/cm 3 and 191mg/KOH respectively. The acid value, which is an index of free fatty acid content, was 8.54mg/NaOH. The averages knock down time for pure garlic oil on Mosquitoes, Cockroaches and Houseflies was 10s, 45s and 15s respectfully while the average knock down time for formulated garlic aerosol was 13s, 58s, and 26s respectively. The average knock down time Baygon ^R Rambo ^R Mobil ^R is (17s 18s 16s), (59s 57s 59s), and (37s 30s 39s) respectively. The study reveals that garlic oil has insecticidal properties on the flying and crawling insects used in the experiment. The formulated aerosol also demonstrated insecticidal properties as revealed in the knock of time and knock down time on the insects. Garlic oil may be considered as an alternative to organophosphates and carbamates currently being used yet with a hidden potential of causing an increased toxicity and morbidity to our major organs and neurological system.