Larvicide and insecticide activity of the essential oil of Ocimum sanctum var. cubensis in the control of Musca domestica (Linnaeus, 1758), under laboratory conditions

Abstract

Essential oils have been considered as an important alternative facing synthetic pesticides. The control of the species Musca domestica is very important for public health due to their role as vector associated with Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella and Shigella, among other pathogens. The objective of this work was to evaluate the larvicidal and insecticidal efficacy of the essential oil of Ocimum sanctum var. cubensis, in the control of Musca domestica and its effect on the post-embryonic development of this species. The essential oil was applied topically in six concentrations to newly hatched larvae (1μL / larva). Mortality, interval length of each development period, as well as the weight of mature larvae were analyzed. An insecticidal bioassay was also carried out in adult flies. The essential oil of O. sanctum caused a slight reduction in the larval and pupal period for some of the concentrations evaluated. The time of development of the newly hatched larvae until the adult period was shortened in all the concentrations analyzed. The larvae of the control group were the heaviest. The effectiveness of the product in the control of the larvae of the flies of the species M. domestica was greater than 50%, except for those larvae treated with 80.25 mg/mL of the essential oil. The lethal concentration for adult insects LC50 was estimated at 9.41μg. Results demonstrated that the essential oil of O. sanctum has effect in all stages of the life cycle of M. domestica, extolling its potential as an effective insecticide against this species.