Louisiana's coastal prairie is home to over 500 native plant species. As a part of our ongoing conservation efforts, we examined the mosquitocidal activity of the essential oil of Eryngium yuccifolium (Rattlesnake master). The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus and the composition was determined by GC-MS. The main constituent was the insecticidal sesquiterpene known as germacrene B (~40%). Several other volatile components were identified including �-elemene, a-humulene, and trans-caryophyllene. In preliminary assays, freshly cut plant parts of E. yuccifolium were toxic to female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes demonstrating 83% and 97% mortality after 24 h and 48 h, respectively. In the current study, we conducted a standard Petri plate contact assay in which the inside surface of the plates was coated with the oil from E. yuccifolium. Female Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were exposed to the extracts for 48 h. Four plates per oil treatment with each plate containing 10 mosquitoes were used in the assay. Extract concentrations ranged from 31.25 ppm to 3120 ppm. After 48 h we observed 25% mortality in mosquitoes exposed to 125 ppm of the oil extract and 100% mortality for concentration of 500 ppm and above. The identification, quantification, and mosquitocidal assay of the essential oil are discussed.

Composition and mosquitocidal activity of the essential oil of <i>Eryngium yuccifolium</i> (Rattlesnake master)

247th National Meeting (2014)

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Composition and mosquitocidal activity of the essential oil of Eryngium yuccifolium (Rattlesnake master)