COMPARING THE REPELLENCY OF DIFFERENT PLANT ESSENTIAL OILS AGAINST MOSQUITO CULEX PIPIENS

Abstract

Due to diminishing man-vector contact, repellency is an important way of preventing vector borne diseases. Mosquitoes control and peoples protection from biting by the mosquitoes are the most significant ways to prevent the diseases that have been transmitted by the mosquitoes. Usage of repellants, especially herbal smokes, is one of the proper methods to protect individuals. In this study, four herbs include Rosa damascena Mill, Lavandula officinalis, Eucalyptus globulus and Mentha longifolia L were examined. After preparing the essential oil of each herb, with a certain concentration, a cotton fabric was stained by using the herbs and at animal test stage, their repelling property against Culex pipiens mosquito was evaluated. Finally, the repelling effect of the fabric stained with the essential oils with the chemical combination repelling N, N-diethyl 3-methyl benzamid, as (DEET) was compared as well. The results of repelling effect of the essential oils of Rosa damascena Mill, Mentha longifolia L, Lavandula officinalis and Eucalyptus globulus was 83%, 96%, 81% and 85%, respectively. Mentha longifolia L (96%) had the highest repelling effect; however Lavandula officinalis (81%) has the least repelling effect respectively. Thus, this work showed that some herbal essential oils can be used as natural repellent materials to improve public health.