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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Mosquito and Fly Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #366289
Research Project: Management of Filth Flies

Location: Mosquito and Fly Research

Title: Efficacy and repellency of some essential oils and their blends against larval and adult house flies, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae).

Author
item Geden, Christopher - Chris
item KHATER, HANEM - Benha University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2019
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Abstract only.

Technical Abstract: House flies are global pests and notoriously difficult to control. Essential oils of vetiver, cinnamon, and lavender and their blends were tested for toxic and repellent effects against larval and adult flies. All of the oils had moderate toxicity for eggs. Mortality of second instar larvae was 57–78% in dipping assays, 38–100% in contact assays, and 94–100 in treated media. Lavender was less effective (38% mortality) than the others (91–100%) in contact bioassays. Oil blends were not more effective against larvae than individual oils. Vetiver and cinnamon oils were strongly repellent (84 and 78%, respectively) for larvae in treated media. None of the oils were repellent for adult house flies in olfactometer assays, but testing of additional products demonstrated significant repellency for neem oil, p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD), and vanillin. Contact/fumigant toxicity of vetiver, cinnamon and lavender oils was 100%, significantly higher than mortality from sunflower oil (67%). Blends of oils were not more effective against adults than the individual oils, but blends diluted with sunflower oil were as effective as the individual oils. Essentials oils of vetiver and cinnamon may have potential for fly management in situations where conventional insecticides cannot be used.