Knockdown of Adult Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) Exposed To Vaporized Acetone

Abstract:
Inhalation of acetone at concentrations above the permissible exposure level (PEL) has been reported to cause adverse effects on human central nervous system, characterized by nausea, headache, dizziness and motor incoordination. The PEL in most European Union countries is limited to 500 ml/m3. This study investigates the possibility of vaporized acetone in affecting mosquito nervous systems, characterized by knockdown i.e. inability of mosquito to fly or stand. Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus and Toxorhynchites splendens exposed to vaporized acetone at a dose of one-sixth of the PEL (PEL/6) of in an airtight flask (0.002 m3) were knocked down in less than 19 minutes. Culex quinquefasciatus were significantly (P < 0.05) more susceptible to acetone compared to Aedes aegypti and Toxorhynchites splendens. Differences of knockdown time between male and female among these three species were insignificant (P > 0.05).