Larvicidal effect of Eucalyptus grandis essential oil and turpentine and their major components on Aedes aegypti (L.) larvae (Diptera: Culicidae)

ALEJANDRO LUCIA; PAOLA GONZÁLEZ AUDINO; EMILIA SECCACINI; SUSANA LICASTRO; EDUARDO ZERBA; HÉCTOR MASUH

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION

American Mosquito Control Association Inc.

Lugar: New Jersey; Año: 2007 vol. 23 p. 299 - 303

8756-971X

ABSTRACT. In the search for new alternatives for the control of Aedes aegypti the larvicidal activity of Eucalyptus grandis essential oil and pine resin essential oil (turpentine) and their major components (a- and b pinene and 1,8-cineole) was determined. Gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy analysis of E. grandis essential oil revealed that its major components are a-pinene and 1,8-cineole. Similar analysis of turpentine obtained by distillation of the resin pitch of conifers showed that a- and b-pinene are the only major components. Third and early 4th instars of the CIPEIN-susceptible strain of Ae. aegypti were exposed to acetonic solutions of E. grandis essential oil, turpentine, and their major components for 24 h. Turpentine, with an LC50 of 14.7 ppm, was more active than the essential oil of E. grandis (LC50: 32.4 ppm). Larvicidalactivity of the essential oil components showed that a- and b-pinene present low LC50 values (15.4 and 12.1 ppm, respectively), whereas pure 1,8-cineole showed an LC50 of 57.2 ppm. These results suggest that a-pinene in E. grandis and a- and b-pinene in turpentine serve as the principal larvicidal components of both oils. Results obtained on larvicidal effects of essential oil of Eucalyptus grandis and turpentine could be considered a contribution to the search for new biodegradable larvicides of natural origin.