Insecticidal activity of some citrus oils against cuex quinquefasciatus

Abstract EN

The present study deals with the parricidal potency of peel oils of grapefruit (Citrus paradise), sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and lime (Citrus aurantifolia) on the 4th instar larvae of the mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus.

Orange oil was the most effective followed by grapefruit oil and then lime oil.

The toxicity of the oils applied to the 4th instar larval stage was extended to papal and adult stages.

All oils produced deleterious effects on fecundity of survivors of sub lethal doses.

By the aid of chemical analysis of oils, the active compound was found to be limonene, a monoterpene compound.

The percentages of limonene were 97.15%, 92.46% and 32.29% for orange, grapefruit and lime respectively.