Mosquito-borne disease claims the lives of approximately 700,000 individuals throughout the world, annually. With the continual increase in insecticide-resistant pest arthropod populations, novel control strategies must be designed and implemented. Plant essential oils and extracts represent potential sources for the screening of new insecticidal active ingredients and additives. This study screened over 15 plant essential oils in combination with natural pyrethrins against pyrethroid-susceptible and pyrethroid-resistant strains of <i>Aedes aegypti</i>. A number of plant essential oils significantly enhanced the toxicity of the screened insecticides applied in tandem. This increased toxicity was observed in two distinct ways 1) an increase in 24-hr mortality and 2) an increase in 1-hr knockdown. Synergism ratios (with respect to 24-hr mortality) ranged from 2-8 and were in many cases similar to piperonyl butoxide, a commercial synergist used to increase the efficacy of pyrethroids. Knockdown was increased by some plant essential oils, and this synergism of 1-hr knockdown was 6-fold for natural pyrethrins. To further explore the synergism of mortality and knockdown, we applied other insecticide classes in combination with select plant essential oils. Synergism of knockdown for clothianidin was as high as 20-fold, indicating the potential of these approaches for enhancing the immediate effect of insecticides as they are applied in the field. These studies represent some of the potential uses of plant essential oils as insecticides and insecticidal additives. We will discuss the potential of plant essential oils as insecticidal additives in future pest control formulations.<br/>

Plant essential oils enhance public health insecticides through diverse modes of action

2019 Fall National Meeting

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