This study reports curcumin as an efficient photolarvicide against Aedes aegypti larvae under natural light illumination. Larval mortality and pupal formation were monitored daily for 21 days under simulated field conditions. In a sucrose-containing formulation, a lethal time 50 ($L{T}_{50}$) of 3 days was found using curcumin at 4.6 mg L⁻¹. This formulation promoted no larval toxicity in the absence of illumination, and sucrose alone did not induce larval phototoxicity. The photodegradation byproducts (intermediates) of curcumin were determined and the photodegradation mechanisms proposed. Intermediates with m/z 194, 278, and 370 were found and characterized using LC-MS. The ecotoxicity of the byproducts on non-target organisms (Daphnia, fish, and green algae) indicates that the intermediates do not exhibit any destructive potential for aquatic organisms. The results of photodegradation and ecotoxicity suggest that curcumin is environmentally safe for non-target organisms and, therefore, can be considered for population control of Ae. aegypti.

Important information about yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) and the identification and quantification of the main Brazilian breeding sites for this vector are highlighted in this chapter. Although most of the control actions have been directed to the adult (winged) phase of the vector, the reduction of immature forms (eggs and larvae) of Aedes is the most important way to control these insects, especially to eliminate breeding sites. These are, in principle, the most important targets for mosquito population control in order to reduce infestation and, consequently, the transmission and incidence of diseases transmitted by insect vectors. Thus, this chapter presents a compilation and discussion that allows comparing characteristics and similarities of Aedes species.

Os surtos epidêmicos de dengue no Brasil têm sido cada vez mais frequentes. No ano de 2020 a pandemia de COVID19 associada aos casos de dengue, zika e chikungunya expuseram a capacidade finita do sistema de saúde, o que torna o tema dengue ainda mais urgente. Todos os anos somos alertados sobre a importância de se eliminar criadouros do mosquito Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762), por meio de campanhas educativas nas mídias locais, nas redes sociais, entre outros. A partir desse cenário, nesse trabalho buscamos elencar os principais motivos apresentados por alguns autores para essa baixa adesão da população, bem como, apresentar as principais soluções apontadas na literatura científica. Foram apontadas diretrizes gerais a fim de que os profissionais de saúde e educação desenvolvam alternativas capazes de integrar a saúde e educação, além de promover um maior engajamento da população às práticas de controle do vetor.

The mosquito Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae), is adapted to different environments, mainly urban ones. They have a high degree of vectorial competence for viral diseases, especially Dengue, the arbovirus with the highest number of cases in the world. The adaptive ability of this insect and the abundance of breeding sites have undermined attempts at population’s control, resulting in a high degree of infestation in many regions of the world, resulting in a Dengue endemic. It is important to understand the different nuances of the insect in order to understand the adaptive capacity of this vector, through the knowledge of his behavior, to propose new strategies and engagement of population in proactive actions that allow the population control of this vector, especially in periods of greater proliferation. This chapter discusses population control strategies, in different scenarios and carried out by different researchers, mainly in Brazil.