Efficacy of essential oils from edible plants as insecticides against the house fly, Musca domestica L.

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 (LC(50)) in 30 min was determined at 26 +/- 1 degrees C. Twelve EOs and 17 individual terpenes were assayed against M. domestica, showing LC(50) values ranging from 3.9 to 85.2 and from 3.3 to >100 mg/dm(3), respectively. EO from Citrus sinensis was the most potent insecticide (LC(50 )= 3.9 mg/dm(3)), followed by EOs from C. aurantium (LC(50 )= 4.8 mg/dm(3)) and Eucalyptus cinerea (LC(50 )= 5.5 mg/dm(3)). According to GC/MS analysis, limonene (92.47%), linalool (1.43%), and b-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 (LC(50 )= 3.3 mg/dm(3)), while (4R)(+)-limonene, was moderately active (LC(50 )= 6.2 mg/dm(3)). Dimethyl 2,2-dichlorovinyl phosphate (DDVP) selected as a positive control, showed an LC(50) of 0.5 mg/dm(3). EOs from C. sinensis, C. aurantium, and E. cinerea show promise as natural insecticides against houseflies.