Literature Review: Ovicidal Mechanism in Mosquito Control

Abstract

Mosquitoes are important vectors of various infectious diseases such as dengue fever, chikungunya, and malaria. Resistance to synthetic insecticides has driven the need for more environmentally friendly control alternatives, one of which is through the use of ovicidal agents - compounds capable of killing or inhibiting the development of mosquito eggs. Ovicides work by damaging the embryo, inhibiting hatching, or destroying the egg structure, and are classified into three types based on the degree of morphological damage: type 1 (physiological effects without morphological damage), type 2 (lytic effects on the egg shell without hyphal penetration), and type 3 (hyphal penetration and internal colonization). Based on their source, ovicides are grouped into three: phytochemical ovicids (derived from plant extracts such as Leucas stachydiformis and Ricinus communis), biological agents (such as the fungi Pochonia and Paecilomyces), and technological agents (e.g., ZnO and TiO₂ nanoparticles). Ovicides can also be combined with oviposition-inhibiting agents to increase control effectiveness. The use of biopesticide-based ovicids and new technologies offers a safer, more target-specific solution with significant potential for suppressing mosquito populations and preventing the transmission of vector-based diseases.