Insecticidal And Repellent Activity Of Citrus Aurantium Essential Oil Against Dengue Mosquito Vector Aedes Aegypti

Indiscriminate use of insecticides to control vector-borne disease contaminates the environment and with time, mosquitoes gradually become resistant, making their control increasingly difficult. An alternative to synthetic insecticides, such as use of essential oils and extracts from plants, is needed for vector control. This study aimed to evaluate Cuban essential oil of Citrus aurantium (Sapindales: Rutaceae) against Aedes aegypti L. mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae), the main vector of arbovirus in Cuban. Calculated mean lethal concentrations (LC) were significantly low (LC50 = 13.5 mg/liter (Rockefeller) and 15.5 mg/liter (Marianao 2013). A developmental inhibitory effect was obtained by exposing each population of mosquito larvae to lethal concentration LC90. The emergence of adult mosquitoes was inhibited by exposing larvae to the LC90 of each population. Neither adulticidal activity was obtained with papers and bottles impregnated at neither 60 mg/ml nor, repellent activity with the evaluated formulations. C. aurantium oil is a promissory candidate for control larvae of Ae. aegypti, although it was not effective against adults nor repellent unless formulations were enhanced.