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Abstract
Mosquitoes play a predominant role in the transmission of parasitic and viral diseases which are today among the greatest health problems in the world. Currently, synthetic insecticides are the most commonly used compounds for the control of larval mosquitoes. Nevertheless, the continuous and indiscriminate use of synthetic larvicides has also induced adverse effects. Essential oils obtained from plants can be an alternative to synthetic insecticides because they are highly effective, safe, and environmentally acceptable. In this study, the larval stage of Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinnquefaciatus were exposed to serial concentrations of essential oils from Tanacetum persicum and Achillea kellalensis for 24 h under laboratory condition. In addition, the chemical composition of essential oils were determined and identified by Gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. Both plant oils exerted significant larvicidal activity against An. stephensi and Cx. quinquefasciatus. The LC values of T. persicum and A. kellalensis against An. stephensi larvae were 48.64 and 35.42 ppm, and for Cx. quinquefasciatus were 28.53 and 21.79 ppm, respectively. In A. kellalensis, 36 components were identified, representing 97.26 % of the oil, of which βocimene (17.72 %), linalyl acetate (15.98 %), linalool (10.83 %) and α-pinene (10.3 %) were found to be the major constituents. Twenty components were identified in the oil of T. persicum, making up 89.60 % of total composition. The main constituents were Borneol (26.4 %), chrysanthenone (16.48 %), bornyl acetate (10.68 %) and βfarnesene (9.89 %). Our results suggested that both examined oils may be explored as a natural larvicide to control vector mosquitoes.