Adulticidal and fecundity effects of essential oils of Cymbopogon citratus and Tagetes minuta against Phlebotomus duboscqi

Abstract

Materials and Methods: 1.0ml of each essential oil extract at concentrations of 0.125; 0.250; 0.500; 0.750 and 1mg/ml and the controls, DEET and Tween 80 were applied to the inner surface and bottom of a sterile pot and thirty adult P. duboscqi specimens aspirated into the pots. The parameters observed were insect mortalities after 24, 48 and 72 h as well as the number of eggs obtained from females subjected to the different treatments. Conclusion: I conclude that the two essential oils are promising natural insecticides due to their safety advantage over chemical insecticides. I do recommend further studies in the field using human subjects before their adoption for use against Phlebotomine sandflies.