Repellent activities of ethanolic extract of Artemisia annua (Asteraceae) and Carica papaya linn (Caricaceae) leaves against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Lokossa district in south-western Benin, West Africa

The alteration of mosquito life cycle using larvicides is key in the control of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. The residual and environmental effect of some of these synthetic larvicides has given an opportunity to search for a potent larvicide as an alternate control measure against mosquitoes. The current study was aimed to evaluate the repellent activities of ethanolic extract of Artemisia annua and Carica papaya linn leaves against Aedes aegypti adult mosquitoes in dengue vector control in Lokossa district in south-western Republic of Benin. Larvae of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were collected from breeding sites using the dipping method from March to July 2024 during the great rainy season in Lokossa district of Mono department. Then, these larvae were reared in insectary until became adult mosquitoes. Repellent activities of ethanolic extract of both plant leaves were measured on adult mosquitoes with different concentrations of 1mg/cm², 2mg/cm², 3mg/cm², 4mg/cm² and 5mg/cm². The results showed that the leaves of both trees had repellent effects against Aedes aegypti adult mosquitoes. However, the repellent effect of Carica papaya linn leaves was higher than that of Artemisia annua leaves. Both ethanolic extracts of Artemisia annua and Carica papaya linn leaves are found to be effective in the repellency against the bites of Aedes aegypti adult mosquitoes.