Synergistic Larvicidal and Pupicidal Effects of Monoterpene Mixtures Against <i>Aedes aegypti</i> with Low Toxicity to Guppies and Honeybees

The present study evaluated the larvicidal and pupicidal activities of pure and mixed monoterpene formulations—eucalyptol, geranial, <i>trans</i>-anethole, and <i>trans</i>-cinnamaldehyde—against <i>Aedes aegypti</i> and compared them with 1% (<i>w</i>...

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Main Authors: Sirawut Sittichok, Hataichanok Passara, Tanapoom Moungthipmalai, Jirisuda Sinthusiri, Kouhei Murata, Mayura Soonwera
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Insects
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/7/738
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author Sirawut Sittichok
Hataichanok Passara
Tanapoom Moungthipmalai
Jirisuda Sinthusiri
Kouhei Murata
Mayura Soonwera
author_facet Sirawut Sittichok
Hataichanok Passara
Tanapoom Moungthipmalai
Jirisuda Sinthusiri
Kouhei Murata
Mayura Soonwera
author_sort Sirawut Sittichok
collection DOAJ
description The present study evaluated the larvicidal and pupicidal activities of pure and mixed monoterpene formulations—eucalyptol, geranial, <i>trans</i>-anethole, and <i>trans</i>-cinnamaldehyde—against <i>Aedes aegypti</i> and compared them with 1% (<i>w</i>/<i>w</i>) temephos. Safety bioassays of all formulations on non-target species confirmed their safety. The combined mixture of eucalyptol + <i>trans</i>-anethole at 400 µg/mL exhibited stronger larvicidal activity, with an LC<sub>50</sub> of 176 µg/mL, while the combination of <i>trans</i>-anethole + geranial at 400 µg/mL exhibited stronger pupicidal activity with an LC<sub>50</sub> of 167 µg/mL. Both formulations were more effective than a 1% temephos. All the mixture formulations were more strongly synergistic compared to pure formulations, with an increased mortality value (IMV) of 25% to 95%. External morphological aberrations observed at death included swelling of the respiratory system. Importantly, all the formulations were safe for two non-target species: guppies (<i>Poecilia reticulata</i>) and honeybees (<i>Apis mellifera</i>). The combination formulations are strong larvicides and pupicides for controlling <i>Ae</i>. <i>Aegypti,</i> which will help reduce the spread of viruses carried by this vector.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2075-4450
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Insects
spelling doaj-art-b55a91c0b1d24650b42a2af520c9b15a2025-08-20T03:32:14ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-07-0116773810.3390/insects16070738Synergistic Larvicidal and Pupicidal Effects of Monoterpene Mixtures Against <i>Aedes aegypti</i> with Low Toxicity to Guppies and HoneybeesSirawut Sittichok0Hataichanok Passara1Tanapoom Moungthipmalai2Jirisuda Sinthusiri3Kouhei Murata4Mayura Soonwera5School of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, Nonthaburi 11120, ThailandOffice of Administrative Interdisciplinary Program on Agricultural Technology, School of Agricultural Technology, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, ThailandDepartment of Plant Production Technology, School of Agricultural Technology, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, ThailandCommunity Public Health Program, Faculty of Public and Environmental Health, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University, Samut Prakan 10540, ThailandSchool of Agriculture, Tokai University, Kumamoto 862-8652, JapanOffice of Administrative Interdisciplinary Program on Agricultural Technology, School of Agricultural Technology, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, ThailandThe present study evaluated the larvicidal and pupicidal activities of pure and mixed monoterpene formulations—eucalyptol, geranial, <i>trans</i>-anethole, and <i>trans</i>-cinnamaldehyde—against <i>Aedes aegypti</i> and compared them with 1% (<i>w</i>/<i>w</i>) temephos. Safety bioassays of all formulations on non-target species confirmed their safety. The combined mixture of eucalyptol + <i>trans</i>-anethole at 400 µg/mL exhibited stronger larvicidal activity, with an LC<sub>50</sub> of 176 µg/mL, while the combination of <i>trans</i>-anethole + geranial at 400 µg/mL exhibited stronger pupicidal activity with an LC<sub>50</sub> of 167 µg/mL. Both formulations were more effective than a 1% temephos. All the mixture formulations were more strongly synergistic compared to pure formulations, with an increased mortality value (IMV) of 25% to 95%. External morphological aberrations observed at death included swelling of the respiratory system. Importantly, all the formulations were safe for two non-target species: guppies (<i>Poecilia reticulata</i>) and honeybees (<i>Apis mellifera</i>). The combination formulations are strong larvicides and pupicides for controlling <i>Ae</i>. <i>Aegypti,</i> which will help reduce the spread of viruses carried by this vector.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/7/738<i>Aedes aegypti</i>eucalyptol<i>trans</i>-anetholegeranialsynergistic effectnon-target species
spellingShingle Sirawut Sittichok
Hataichanok Passara
Tanapoom Moungthipmalai
Jirisuda Sinthusiri
Kouhei Murata
Mayura Soonwera
Synergistic Larvicidal and Pupicidal Effects of Monoterpene Mixtures Against <i>Aedes aegypti</i> with Low Toxicity to Guppies and Honeybees
Insects
<i>Aedes aegypti</i>
eucalyptol
<i>trans</i>-anethole
geranial
synergistic effect
non-target species
title Synergistic Larvicidal and Pupicidal Effects of Monoterpene Mixtures Against <i>Aedes aegypti</i> with Low Toxicity to Guppies and Honeybees
title_full Synergistic Larvicidal and Pupicidal Effects of Monoterpene Mixtures Against <i>Aedes aegypti</i> with Low Toxicity to Guppies and Honeybees
title_fullStr Synergistic Larvicidal and Pupicidal Effects of Monoterpene Mixtures Against <i>Aedes aegypti</i> with Low Toxicity to Guppies and Honeybees
title_full_unstemmed Synergistic Larvicidal and Pupicidal Effects of Monoterpene Mixtures Against <i>Aedes aegypti</i> with Low Toxicity to Guppies and Honeybees
title_short Synergistic Larvicidal and Pupicidal Effects of Monoterpene Mixtures Against <i>Aedes aegypti</i> with Low Toxicity to Guppies and Honeybees
title_sort synergistic larvicidal and pupicidal effects of monoterpene mixtures against i aedes aegypti i with low toxicity to guppies and honeybees
topic <i>Aedes aegypti</i>
eucalyptol
<i>trans</i>-anethole
geranial
synergistic effect
non-target species
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/7/738
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