Adulticidal effect of seven terpenes and a binary combination against Aedes aegypti

FLORES, GUILLERMO A. M.; FERNÁNDEZ, NAHUEL F.; DEFAGÓ, MARÍA TERESA; VISINTIN, ANDRÉS MARIO; PALACIO, SARA M.

JOURNAL OF VECTOR BORNE DISEASES

MALARIA RESEARCH CENTRE

Lugar: Nueva Delhi; Año: 2020 vol. 57 p. 356 - 358

0972-9062

Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) is vector for several globally important arboviruses like dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever. This mosquito has a high vectorial capacity associated with urban habit and female preference for human blood. Vector control is essential to reduce pathogen spread. Botanical compounds represent an ecologically healthy option as insecticides. The current study examines the effects of lethal exposure to seven different terpenes by Ae. aegypti adults and aims to detect possible synergistic effects by combining the most active ones. The effect of seven terpenes were studied, pulegone and citronellal were the most effective with LC50 values lower than 0.1 mg/L. This work is the first to evaluate the synergistic effect of terpenes on Ae. aegypti adults. We believe that both pulegone and citronellal, or their mixture, could be considered natural alternatives for the development of more efficient formulations for the management of these mosquito species.