REPELLENT ACTIVITY OF CERTAIN ESSENTIAL OILS ON THE YELLOW FEVER MOSQUITO, Aedes aegypti L. (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

摘要

The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti when exposed to the vapors of three essential oils derived from Azadirachta indica, Annona squamosa and Leonotis nepetaefolia, exhibited significant repellent activity to all the three oils. Of the three oils used, Azadirachta indica showed the maximum repellent activity followed by Annona squamosa and Leonotis nepetaefolia respectively. Yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti L is a vector of yellow fever, Dengue, Chikungunya and other diseases. It affects man by its bites which cause irritation and its buzzing sound annoyance and the disease causing organisms that it leaves behind in him several diseases. Perusal of the literature shows that it has acquired resistance to various organochlorinated pesticides, certain organophosphorus compounds, Methoprene, a juvenile hormone analogue and Dimilin, a Chitin synthesis inhibitor (WHO, 1986, Mehrotra, 1992 and Tyagi, 1994). Thus focus is drawn towards the use of alternative, ecofriendly methods of control of this serious pest. Among these use of plant chemicals for the management of pests has drawn a wide attention.