Abstract
Objective: The present study was undertaken with the aim of finding out the efficacy of essential oils (EOs) as anti-mosquito agents for commercial purposes. Plant source insecticides as an alternative to chemical insecticide, this study were evaluated to assess the knock-down and adulticidal prospective of the essential oils against Culex quinquefasciatus. The plant essential oil is largely cultivated throughout India and in all Tropical countries.Methods: The selected botanical essential oils were procured from commercial producers of plant essential oils and aromatic substances were used in this study. Knock-down and Adulticidal bioassay was performed according to WHO protocol. A single dose of the essential oils was used in the preliminary screening. 20 adult mosquitoes (3-5 d old glucose fed mosquitoes) were exposed on treated paper for one hour and knocked down and live mosquitoes were counted at 5 minute intervals.Results: Among the twenty three oils tested, 100% knock-down and adult mortality was recorded at 10%/cm2dose of calamus, camphor, cinnamon, citronella, clove, eucalyptus, lemongrass, pine, thyme and tulsi oils respectively. At 10 % concentration, clove oil (KT50 =1.8 and KT90 = 2.03 min) was found to be the most potential treatment. After 15 min exposure period clove oil registered the lowest knock-down dosewhich was calculated as (KD50 =1.8 %/cm2and KD90 =11.2 %/cm2). The lower and upper 95 % confidence limits for clove oil were calculated as 0.2 and 4.2 min respectively.Conclusion: From the results it can be concluded that the adult of the Cx. quinquefasciatus were susceptible to the essential oils. Such findings would be useful in promoting research aiming at the development of new agent for mosquito control on basis of chemical compounds from indigenous plant sources as an alternative to chemicals.
Highlights
Mosquito diseases, such as malaria, Japanese encephalitis, filariasis, dengue and yellow fever a major source of illness and death worldwide, in tropical and subtropical area [1]
Each essential oil were prepared in 2 ml of acetone and applied on Whitman no. 1 filter papers, control papers were treated with 2 ml of acetone alone and placed in exposure tubes. 3-5 d old sugar fed mosquitoes (In each tube, 20 adult mosquitoes) were exposed on treated paper for one hour and knocked down and live mosquitoes were recorded at every 5 minute intervals
In the present preliminary screening study a single dose (10%) of essential oils (EOs) was used and acetone served as control and reference insecticide (0.05 % deltamethrin) was used as comparison
Summary
Mosquito diseases, such as malaria, Japanese encephalitis, filariasis, dengue and yellow fever a major source of illness and death worldwide, in tropical and subtropical area [1]. An estimated 120 million people in tropical and subtropical areas of the world are infected with lymphatic filariasis [4]. Mosquitoes cause allergic responses in humans that include local skin and systemic reactions [5]. Such serious diseases are becoming increasingly difficult because of the high rate of reproduction and development of resistance to insecticides in mosquitoes [6]. Insect resistance has been reported to chemical class of insecticide used in vector control programs and insect growth regulators [9]
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