Abstract
In the present investigation, twenty plant essential oils (EOs) are tested against Aedes aegypti at their egg stage aiming to control the mosquito population at its breeding site. The results are very much promising for EOs extracted from Allium sativum, Mentha piperita and Ocimum sanctum with sublethal concentration (LC50) of 1.00 ppm, 4.01 ppm and 8.40 ppm, respectively, which seems to be at par with WHO-recommended dose for synthetic larvicide temephos. Three plant oils responded with LC50 below 50 ppm. However, few plant oils did not show lethal effects at all. The effective EOs can in future be used in breeding sites including the potable and household water tank as these plants are edible and hence safe for consumption. These might be a potent candidate for decreasing Aedes population and for replacing synthetic insecticides against Aedes. Moreover, these three highly effective EOs would be accessible and cost-effective for common people to use.
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Acknowledgement
The authors are very much grateful to University Grant Commission (UGC) for their financial support in the present study (Grant No. Z/BSR/2014-15). Authors are thankful to Head of the Department of Zoology, Gauhati University and Head of the Department of Botany, Gauhati University for their support and help.
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Sarma, R., Adhikari, K., Mahanta, S. et al. Twenty Essential Oils as Ovicidal Agent Against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). Natl. Acad. Sci. Lett. 43, 497–500 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40009-020-00923-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40009-020-00923-1