Mosquitoes of the genus Culex mosquitoes are important vectors of several human diseases and the increasing resistance to synthetic insecticides has highlighted the need for environmentally safe and sustainable larvicides. In the present study, the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of peels of potato (Solanum tuberosum), banana (Musa acuminata), pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica), sponge gourd (Luffa acutangula), bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus) were assayed for larvicidal potential against third and fourth instars of Culex spp. The peel powders after oven drying were extracted by maceration and the extracts subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening for the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, glycosides, terpenoids, coumarins and quinones using standard protocols. Larvicidal bioassays were carried out at five concentrations (50, 150, 250, 350 and 450 ppm) and mortality was recorded at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 96 h. The LC₅₀, LC₉₀, regression equations and coefficients of determination (R²) were calculated using Abbott’s correction and log-probit regression analysis.

Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of several bioactive secondary metabolites and banana and potato peel extracts exhibited the richest phytochemical profiles. Larval mortality increased significantly with increase in concentration and time of exposure. On the other hand, LC 50 values decreased progressively showing the increase in toxicity with the prolonged exposure. Ethanol extracts were always more larvicidal than water extracts. Among all the treatments, ethanolic extract of potato peel was found to be most effective followed by banana and pointed gourd extracts whereas cucumber peel extracts showed lowest effectiveness.