Ovicidal Activity and Repellent of Essential Oils on the Oviposition of Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

Background and aims: The evaluation of the insecticidal activity of plants constitutes a novel approach for the development of new natural and bioavailable products for the control of vectors. The objective of this work was to evaluate the ovicidal activity and the repelllency to oviposition of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus at different breeding sites of six essential oils; Bursera graveolens (Kunth) Triana & Planch, Citrus aurantium L., Eucalyptus globulus Labill, Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) ST Blake, Ocimum basilicum L., Piper aduncum subsp ossanum (C. DC.) Saralegui. Methods: Two strain of Ae. aegypti (susceptible and one from the field), one strain of Ae. albopictus collected in one municipality of Havana province and six essential oil were used during the study. The ovicidal activity and the repellency for the selection of the oviposition sites of the oils were determined following the methodology described by the literature. Results: There was low ovicidal activity of all the evaluated oils, on Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. All the essential oils generated repellency to the oviposition in both species, being C. aurantium and P. aduncum subsp ossanum those that showed a total repellence. Conclusions: With knowledge of the behavior of oviposition of mosquitoes and the mode of action of essential oils from Cuban flora, formulations could be developed to contribute to the ovicidal action and / or to discourage the oviposition of these insects.