Larvicidal and pupicidal effects of some essential oils against Musca domestica Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera:Muscidae)

Essential oils (EOs) from plants can provide an eco-friendly alternatives to traditional synthetic insecticides. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of six different essential oil (Foeniculum vulgare, Cinnamomum verum, Allium sativum, Capsicum annum, Mentha piperita, Urtica dioica) against Musca domestica. Larvicidal and pupicidal, efficacy of six EOs were evaluated by contact toxicity method at four different doses (1%; 2.5%, 5%, and 10%) in 5 replications. The research was performed at 60 ± 1.5% humidity and 27 ± 0.5 0C temperature at the Animal Physiology Laboratory of Ondokuz Mayıs University. The LC50 and LC90 values were determined by probit analysis. The effects of treatment and concentrations on different exposure periods, larval and pupal survival and development time were analyzed by a two-way analysis of variance. The larval toxicity of six EOs increased significantly with increased exposed periods. The larval and pupal mortality percent was also increased as the concentration increased for testing all essential oil. The highest larval mortality percent (100.0%) was observed at the (10%) concentration of six essential oils, and all concentrations of Cinnamomum verum oil. Besides, the lowest larval mortality percent (46%) was caused by the 1% concentration of Foeniculum vulgare. The highest pupicidal effect was shown by 10, 5, 2.5% Cinnamomum verum EOs (100% mortality) and 1% Cinnamomum verum EOs (97.36%). The present study revealed that tested essential oil had significant potential for affecting biological parameters of M. domestica. The Cinnamomum verum EOs can be used as an eco- friendly product for the control of housefly larvae and pupae.