Repellent, larvicidal and pupicidal properties of essential oils and their formulations against the housefly, Musca domestica.

摘要

The essential oils of six plant species [peppermint, Mentha piperita, and bergamot mint, Mentha citrata (both, Lamiales: Lamiaceae); blue gum, Eucalyptus globulus (Myrtales: Myrtaceae); lemongrass, Cymbopogon citratus, and khus grass, Vetiver zizanoides (both, Poales: Poaceae), and turmeric, Curcuma longa (Ziniberales: Zingiberaceae)] were screened for repellent, larvicidal and pupicidal activities against the housefly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae). Subsequently, emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations of the two most effective oils were prepared and tested in the laboratory as well as in the field. In repellency bioassays, M. piperita (RC₈₄, 61.0 micro g/cm2) was found to be most effective, followed by E. globulus (RC₈₄, 214.5 micro g/cm2) and C. citratus (RC₈₄, 289.2 micro g/cm2). Formulated M. piperita and E. globulus showed RC₈₄ values of 1.6 micro g/cm2 and 4.1 micro g/cm2, respectively. Formulated M. piperita and E. globulus achieved larval mortality (LC₅₀) in 72 h at 5.12 micro g/cm2 and 6.09 micro g/cm2, respectively. In pupicidal bioassays, crude oils of M. piperita and E. globulus suppressed the emergence of adult flies by 100%. Field experiments with the M. piperita formulation showed reductions in fly density (number of flies/h) of 96% on treated cattle and 98% on treated plots. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of EC formulations of selected essential oils in reducing housefly populations in field conditions.