Résumé:
This study evaluates the comparative larvicidal efficacy of certain plant-derived essential oils
and their main constituents against Culiseta longiareolata (Macquart, 1838), a mosquito species
of medical importance. Three essential oils — Mentha spicata, Citrus aurantium, and
Eucalyptus globulus — were tested, along with their dominant compounds: limonene and
carvone (M. spicata), linalool (C. aurantium), and eucalyptol (E. globulus). Bioassays revealed
that β-pinene exhibited the highest larvicidal activity, followed by limonene, which was more
effective than the full essential oil of M. spicata and carvone. In contrast, the essential oils of
C. aurantium and E. globulus demonstrated greater efficacy than their respective major
compounds, suggesting the presence of synergistic interactions. These findings highlight the
potential of both isolated terpenes and complex essential oil mixtures as eco-friendly larvicidal
agents, and the importance of assessing both pure compounds and whole oils in the
development of sustainable mosquito control strategies
