REPELLENCY AND ACTIVITY EVALUATION OF Myrtus Communis ESSENTIAL OIL ON PHYSIOLOGY AND REPRODUCTION OF MOSQUITO SPECIES Culex Pipiens.

Mosquitoes instead of causing a great annoyance are considered the most insect vector diseases. In order to minimize the spread of the vector mosquito species and the epidemics, several methods have been considered and adopted to contribute to sustainable environmental management and effective biological vector control. Current researches are more interested towards the use of natural substances of plant origin, particularly essential oils, which are considered to be more selective and ecologically degradable bioactive and insecticidal agents. The present study aimed to evaluate the repellent effect, physiology and reproduction of an essential oil (EO), extracted by hydrodistillation from the fresh leaves of a plant, Myrtus communis (Myrtales: Myrtaceae), against a domestic mosquito vector, Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae). The EO of Myrtle was tested against a new exuviated fourth instar larvae and the repellency for the adult females of Cx. pipiens, at different concentrations (M. communis EO was diluted in acetone). Additionally, this EO was tested against the fourth instar larvae of Cx. pipiens, treated with the lethal concentrations (LC 50 & LC 90 ), in order to evaluate its activity on the metabolites quantities (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates) and the effect on reproduction parameters. The obtained results exhibit a larvicidal effect with a dose response-relationship and demonstrated a significant repellent effect for the adult females. The biochemical compositions indicate that the essential oil had a significant impact on the energy reserves, particularly on proteins and lipids with a perturbation on reproduction. In conclusion, the EO of myrtle presents a significant insecticidal effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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