Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases 2322-1984 10 4 2016 10 24 602 608 EN Chandrashekhar Devidas Patil School of Life Sciences, North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India Chandrakant Prakash Narkhede School of Life Sciences, North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India Rahul Khushal Suryawanshi School of Life Sciences, North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India Satish Vitthal Patil School of Life Sciences, North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India 2016 02 24 2016 02 24 Background: Considering the disadvantages of chemical insecticides, we aimed to evaluate Vorticella parasites for control of mosquito larvae of Anopheles stephensi and Aedes aegypti at different larval stages. Methods: Vorticella sp infected mosquito larvae were crushed in the 0.85% saline and homogenized well to get Vorti­cella in suspension. The effects of Vorticella sp infections on larval development were investigated by inoculat­ing protozoan on different larval instars of An. stephensi and Ae. aegypti and observed under light microscope. Le­thal time of the Vorticella infected larvae at different stages was calculated. Results: First and 2nd larval instars of both An. stephensi and Ae. aegypti did not show signs of infection by Vorti­cella sp., whereas 3rd instars of An. stephensi showed more Vorticella infection than those of Ae. aegypti. However, 4th larval instars of both mosquitoes were heavily infected with Vorticella parasite which was responsible for slug­gish movements of larvae and eventually death. Moreover, parasites (Vorticella spp) were responsible for more than 90% reduction in adult emergence for both infected An. stephensi and Ae. aegypti. Conclusion: This study provides insights for mosquito larvicidal action of surface parasite Vorticella on different larval stages of An. stephensi and Ae. Aegypti. It could be suggested as a potential candidate in mosquito biocontrol programs. https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/390 https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/download/390/307