Sublethal effects of the botanical deoxypodophyllotoxin on development and reproduction of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti

Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DEO) is the main insecticidal compound isolated from Sabina vulgaris Antoine (Cupressaceae) and is highly toxic to mosquitoes. We examined its effects at sublethal doses. DEO treatment of first instars for 24 h (0.3 – 1.3 ìg/ml) delayed development to adults by 2 – 4 days. A single topical dose of DEO (0.16 – 0.63 ìg) given to females 24 h prior to or after a blood meal reduced the number of eggs oviposited by half or more (control ~ 120 eggs/female). Females that ingested DEO in sugar water (0.5 and 0.125 µg/µl) and took a blood meal 24 h later laid half the number of eggs of control females. DEO at these sublethal doses blocked yolk protein production in blood-fed females. This study shows that DEO is an effective mosquitocide over a great dose range.