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Larvicidal and repellent activity of Hyptis suaveolens (Lamiaceae) essential oil against the mosquito Aedes albopictus Skuse (Diptera: Culicidae)

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Abstract

Lamiaceae have traditionally been used in developing countries for their insecticidal and repellent properties against several insect species. In our research, the essential oil (EO) extracted from fresh leaves of Hyptis suaveolens (Lamiaceae), and its main constituents were evaluated for larvicidal and repellent activity against the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus Skuse (Diptera: Culicidae), currently the most invasive mosquito worldwide. H. suaveolens EO had insecticidal activity against A. albopictus larvae and mortality was dosage dependent. At the highest dosages of 450 and 400 ppm, there were no significant differences on larval mortality, as mortality ranged between 98.33% and 93.33%, respectively. At dosages ranging from 250 to 350 ppm, mortality rates were lower and not significantly different from each other. Terpinolene was found to be the most effective pure compound. Efficacy protection from H. suaveolens EO, at dosages ranging from 0.03748 to 0.7496 μg cm−2 of skin, was evaluated during 150 min of observation. Results indicated that this EO had a significant repellent activity (RD50 = 0.00035 μg cm−2; RD90 = 0.00048 μg cm−2), with differences in repellency rates, as a function of both concentration and observation time. Protection time ranged from 16 to 135 min. These results clearly evidenced that the larvicidal and repellent activity of H. suaveolens EO could be used for the development of new and safer products against A. albopictus.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the ten patient volunteers and Dr. Leonella Anguillesi Grassano for proofreading the English language.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Tree Science, Entomology and Plant Pathology “G. Scaramuzzi”, University of Pisa, Via San Michele degli Scalzi 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy

    Barbara Conti, Giovanni Benelli, Raffaele Profeti & Angelo Canale

  2. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno Pisano 33, 56126, Pisa, Italy

    Guido Flamini & Pier Luigi Cioni

  3. Department of Agronomy and Agro-ecosystem Management, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124, Pisa, Italy

    Lucia Ceccarini & Mario Macchia

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  1. Barbara Conti
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  2. Giovanni Benelli
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  3. Guido Flamini
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Correspondence to Barbara Conti.

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Conti, B., Benelli, G., Flamini, G. et al. Larvicidal and repellent activity of Hyptis suaveolens (Lamiaceae) essential oil against the mosquito Aedes albopictus Skuse (Diptera: Culicidae). Parasitol Res 110, 2013–2021 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-011-2730-8

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