Larvicidal-ovicidal, larvicidal, activity and repellency of the essential oil of “holy wood” Bursera graveolens on Aedes aegypti

Abstract

Bursera graveolens((Kunth) Triana & Planch, 1872) is an important component of traditional Peruvian medicine and is known for its repellent properties against mosquitoes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ovicidal-larvicidal, larvicidal, and repellent properties of the essential oil of B. graveolens on Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762), called dengue mosquito, mummy mosquito or yellow fever mosquito. The concentrations to evaluate the ovicidal-larvicidal effect were 0.01%; 0.02%; 0.03% and 0.04%, for the larvicidal effect 0.01%; 0.02%; 0.03%; 0.04%; and 0.05% and for repellency against adults the concentrations of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. The tests were carried out with colony populations of A. aegypti developed in the Entomological Research Laboratory of the National University of Tumbes. Under laboratory conditions, the essential oil of B. graveolens shows ovicidal-larvicidal activity of 100% at a concentration of 0.04%, larvicidal activity of 100% at 0.05% and in the case of adult repellency at 30 minutes, concentrations of 50%, 75% and 100%. In conclusion, the essential oil of the species under study could be useful for the control of populations of A. aegypti and other mosquitoes, as an environmentally friendly alternative.