How to repel a killer; chemical identification and effective repellent activity of commercial essential oils against kissing bugs

• Published in: Medical and veterinary entomology 2024-06, Vol.38 (2), p.148-159
• Main Authors: Rito‐Rueda, Azhary, Flores‐Jiménez, Juan Eduardo, Gutiérrez‐Cabrera, Ana Erika, Cruz‐Esteban, Samuel, Córdoba‐Aguilar, Alex, Cruz‐López, Leopoldo, Alavez‐Rosas, David
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal behavior; Animals; Chagas disease; Chagas Disease - prevention & control; Chagas Disease - transmission; chemical ecology; Essential oils; ethology; Female; Humans; Insect Repellents - pharmacology; Insect Vectors - drug effects; Insects; Male; Oils & fats; Oils, Volatile - pharmacology; Repellents; Rhodnius; Triatoma - drug effects; Vectors; Vectors (Biology); Volatiles
• ISSN: 0269-283X; 1365-2915
• DOI: 10.1111/mve.12702

Triatomines are haematophagous insects, some species are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the aetiological agent of Chagas disease. The main strategy for interrupting T. cruzi transmission is to avoid contact of the vector populations with humans. Volatiles from commercial essential oils are excellent candidates to serve as repellents of kissing bugs. We used an exposure device to assess the repellence effect of eight commercial essential oils on Triatoma pallidipennis. The most effective oils were blended and evaluated against T. infestans, T. pallidipennis and Rhodnius prolixus. The blend was also evaluated on parasitised T. pallidipennis. Data were compared with the commercial repellent NN‐diethyl‐3‐methylbenzamide. We recorded the time the insects spent in the proximity of the host and determined if any of the evaluated oils served as kissing bug repellent. We found commercial essential oils and a blend that significantly reduced the time spent in the proximity of the host. The blend was effective for use by human males and females, repelling infected and non‐infected insects. The study of essential oils as repellents of blood‐sucking disease‐vector insects could shed light on the development of new control strategies. Essential oils of citronella, mint and lavender were as effective as DEET in repelling Chagasic bugs. A blend of citronella, mint and lavender essential oils was effective against Triatoma pallidipennis, T. infestans and Rhodnius prolixus. The insect development stage influences the repellent effect of the blend, but the status of infection and human host's sex does not influence the effect of the blend.