ADULTICIDAL ACTION OF TEN CITRUS OILS AGAINST AEDES ALBOPICTUS (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

The present study was carried out to evaluate the adulticidal action of ten citrus oils against Aedes albopictus through exposure tube method. The results showed that toxic effects of citrus oils varied with time and concentration. Jaffa (C. sinensis) oil was the most lethal (LC50 = 53.61, 11.07 and 3.41%) at all recorded times (6, 12 and 24 respectively) and concentrations (5, 10, 15 and 20%) with LT50 (18.70, 14.08, 10.42 and 6.59% respectively, followed by Carrizo citrange. Whereas Minneola oil (root stock) was the least effective after 6 hrs however significant change in mortality was observed after 12 and 24 hrs. Gada dehi was moderately effective after 6 hrs with its performance deteriorating at 12 and 24 hrs time intervals. Our experiments have proved thatcitrus oils have the potential for controlling insects. Therefore, these can be used as best alternative for controlling adults of Ae. albopictus.