Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) obtained from edible vegetable oils: Larvicidal activity and melanization process in Aedes aegypti larvae

Larval control of mosquitoes using chemical insecticides has promoted the formation of resistant strains of these insects. In the search for more efficient active substances on the different species of invertebrates, the use of compounds of vegetal origin is a potential alternative. The objective of this work was to evaluate the activity of different fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) on Aedes aegypti larvae. The main unsaturated methyl esters present in the FAMEs tested were methyl oleate and methyl linoleate. The most active samples on A. aegypti larvae were FAMEs 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, with LC50 values of 15.55, 5.92, 5.13, 3.35 and 8.01 μg/mL. All FAMEs triggered the melanization response in the larvae, which varied in relation to the time for the appearance of the pigment granules, intensity and number. FAMEs can be considered a source of new natural bioinsecticides for the control of mosquito larvae.