Mosquitoes are tiny flying insects and great importance as vectors of many pathogenic organisms, including viruses. Aedes aegypti is a primary vector of the dengue virus that causes dengue fever which is a globally important disease that is threatening people in developing countries. In this research studied the activity of seven commercial herb essential oils including cassia, cinnamon, East Indian lemon grass, bay, sweet basil, holy basil and ginger against larvae of the dengue virus vector Ae. aegypti. The results of this study revealed the efficacy against Aedes mosquito larvae of seven commercial pure essential oils. The Cinnamon oil had the highest larvicidal activity (LC50 = 0.03 ppm and LC90 = 0.04 ppm), followed by the essential oils of cassia, holy basil, bay, sweet basil, East Indian lemon grass and ginger. These results are important from the public health perspective, since they relate to a dengue vector that requires alternative organic substances for its control and elimination.
Key words: Essential oils, Ae. aegypti, Larvicidal activity, Mosquito larvae.
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