Efficacy of Essential Oils from Edible Plants as Insecticides Against the House Fly, Musca Domestica L.

Abstract

The compositions of 12 essential oils (EOs) obtained by hydrodistillation of edible fruits and herbs were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). The insecticidal activity of each oil against the house fly Musca domestica was evaluated by placing flies in a glass jar with a screw cap that held a piece of EO-treated cotton yarn. The dose necessary to kill 50% of flies (LC50) in 30 min was determined at 26 ± 1°C. Twelve EOs and 17 individual terpenes were assayed against M. domestica, showing LC50 values ranging from 3.9 to 85.2 and from 3.3 to >100 mg/dm3, respectively. EO from Citrus sinensis was the most potent insecticide (LC50 = 3.9 mg/dm3), followed by EOs from C. aurantium (LC50 = 4.8 mg/dm3) and Eucalyptus cinerea (LC50 = 5.5 mg/dm3). According to GC/MS analysis, limonene (92.47%), linalool (1.43%), and β-myrcene (0.88%) were the principal components of C. sinensis EO. Limonene was also the principal constituent (94.07%) of C. aurantium, while 1,8-cineole (56.86%) was the major constituent of E. cinerea EO. 1,8-Cineole was most active against M. domestica (LC50 = 3.3 mg/dm3), while (4R)(+)-limonene, was moderately active (LC50 = 6.2 mg/dm3). Dimethyl 2,2-dichlorovinyl phosphate (DDVP) selected as a positive control, showed an LC50 of 0.5 mg/dm3. EOs from C. sinensis, C. aurantium, and E. cinerea show promise as natural insecticides against houseflies.

Insecticidal activity of essential oils from native medicinal plants of Central Argentina against the house fly, Musca domestica (L.)

“…More recently, we have determined the LC 50 of EOs from edible plants, at 26±1°C but over the considerably shorter period of 30 min (Palacios et al 2009). In this study, Citrus sinensis EO was the most potent insecticide (LC 50 =3.9 mg/dm 3 ), followed by EOs from Citrus aurantium (LC 50 =4.8 mg/dm 3 ), and Eucalyptus cinerea (LC 50 =5.5 mg/dm 3 ) (Palacios et al 2009).…”

Chemical&nbsp;Variability and&nbsp;Biological Activities of&nbsp;<em>Eucalyptus</em> spp. Essential Oils

“…Tables 1 and 3 show that 1,8-cineole is the major component found in all the investigated EOs extracted from this species. The lowest reported contents were observed for plants from Argentina, 56.9% [85] and 62.1% [86]. EOs with content of 1,8-cineole superior to 70% were found from plants cultivated in Argentina, 88.5% [84] and 79.8% [75]; in Paraná State, Brazil, 83.6% [82] and 75.7% [81]; and in Tunisia, 79.2% [83] and 70.4% [80].…”

Efficacy of citronella and eucalyptus oils against Musca domestica, Cimex lectularius and Pediculus humanus

“…In the present study, the oil of citronella and eucalyptus caused noticeable mortality of more than 98.33% of medical pests at very low dose (3 mL). Palacios et al [25] evaluated the insecticidal activity of nine essential oils from medicinal plants belonging to Lamiaceae family against M. domestica and recorded LC 50 of 46.9 mg/dm 3 in 30 min.…”