Toxicity of Selected Indigenous Plant Extracts against Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae): A Potential Dengue Vector in Dengue Positive Areas

The present study aims at assessing the larvicidal potential of essential oils from some indigenous plants against larvae of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae), a dengue vector in dengue positive areas. Results revealed that after 24, 48 and 72 h of exposure to essential oils, musambi (Citrus sinensis L. var. musambi) caused highest mortality (64.32%, 76.05% and 89.25, respectively) followed by eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis L.) (60.93%, 72.78% and 85.49, respectively). Ae. albopictus larvae showed highest susceptibility, both in terms of LC50 and LT50, to musambi (Citrus sinensis L. var. musambi) essential oil after 24 h, but were highly and equally susceptible to essential oils from darchini (Cinnamomum cassia), musumbi (Citrus sinensis L. var. musambi), bakhra (Tribulus terrestris L.), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis L.) and succari (Citrus sinensis L. var. succari) after 48 and 72 h. Results are discussed with possible mode of action of plant extracts in mosquitoes.