Insecticidal Effect of Schinus latifolius Essential Oil on the Housefly, Musca domestica L.

The composition of essential oil (EO) from Schinus latifolius obtained by hydro distillation of dry leaves was analyzed using gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). The insecticidal effect of the oil on the house fly Musca domestica was evaluated by placing flies in a sealed glass jar containing a piece of EO-treated cotton yarn. The dose necessary to kill 50% of flies (LC50) in 0.5 and 1 h was determined at 26±1°C. The essential oil from Schinus latifolius showed significant insecticidal properties [LC50 = 31.98 mg/dm3 (0.5 h) and LC50 = 19.20 mg/dm3 (1 h)]. According to GC-FID and GC/MS analysis a total of 54 compounds were identified accounting for 99.45% of the EO, with limonene (50.23%); -pinene (15.01%); -pinene (11.81%); sabinene (4.71%) and -thujene (2.18%) as the main components. The EO from Schinus latifolius appears promising as a natural insecticide against houseflies. The composition of the Schinus latifolius essential oil reported in this study is different to that reported in other publications. The most important characteristic is the high content of limonene (50.23%), which can be attributed to the time of year and the geographic location of the sampled plants.