Potential larvicidal and pupacidal activities of herbal essential oils against Culex quinquefasciatus say and Anopheles minimus (Theobald)

Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2010 Nov;41(6):1342-51.

Abstract

The larvicidal and pupacidal effects of eight herbal essential oils were tested against third instar (L3), fourth instar (L4), and pupal stages of Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles minimus. Probit analysis was used to analyze the data. The larval mortality was recorded at 1, 5, 10, 30, and 60 minutes, and 24 hours. Pupal mortality was also recorded at 24 hours intervals for 96 hours when completed mortality was achieved. Citronella grass oil #2 (Cymbopogon nardus) proved to have the greatest toxicity against 3rd instar Cx. quinquefasciatus and An. minimus with LT50 at 1.2 and <0.2 minute, respectively. It exhibited a high level of effectiveness against 4th instar Cx. quinquefasciatus (LT50 at 5.1 minutes) and An. minimus (LT50 at 0.9 minute). Regarding pupacidal activity, Cx. quinquefasciatus and An. minimus pupae were susceptible to Lemon grass oil (LT50 at 1.2 hours) and Citronella grass oil #1 (LT50 at 0.6 hour), respectively. These oils had larvicidal and pupacidal activities with 100% mortality against L3, L4 and pupal stage Cx. quinquefasciatus at 10 minutes, 30 minutes and 24 hours. They also caused 100% mortality of An. minimus at 5 minutes (L3, L4), and 24 hours (pupal stage).

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anopheles*
  • Culex*
  • Insecticides*
  • Larva
  • Mosquito Control / methods*
  • Oils, Volatile*
  • Pupa
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Insecticides
  • Oils, Volatile