Comparative larvicidal efficacy of plant-derived essential oils and their active molecules against Culiseta longiareolata (Macquart, 1838)

Abstract

This study evaluates the comparative larvicidal efficacy of certain plant-derived essential oils and their main constituents against Culiseta longiareolata (Macquart, 1838), a mosquito species of medical importance. Three essential oils — Mentha spicata, Citrus aurantium, and Eucalyptus globulus — were tested, along with their dominant compounds: limonene and carvone (M. spicata), linalool (C. aurantium), and eucalyptol (E. globulus). Bioassays revealed that β-pinene exhibited the highest larvicidal activity, followed by limonene, which was more effective than the full essential oil of M. spicata and carvone. In contrast, the essential oils of C. aurantium and E. globulus demonstrated greater efficacy than their respective major compounds, suggesting the presence of synergistic interactions. These findings highlight the potential of both isolated terpenes and complex essential oil mixtures as eco-friendly larvicidal agents, and the importance of assessing both pure compounds and whole oils in the development of sustainable mosquito control strategies