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Housefly (Musca domestica L.) control potential of Cymbopogon citratus Stapf. (Poales: Poaceae) essential oil and monoterpenes (citral and 1,8-cineole)

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Abstract

In spite of being a major vector for several domestic, medical, and veterinary pests, the control aspect of the common housefly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) is often neglected. In the present study, the essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus and its major components were evaluated for control of housefly. The chemical composition analysis of C. citratus oil by gas chromatographic mass spectrometry (GC–MS) revealed citral (47 %) and 1,8-cineole (7.5 %) as principal components. The analysis of oil vapor by solid phase microextraction (SPME/GC–MS) showed increase in citral (74.9 %) and 1,8-cineole (8.6 %) content. Assay of oil against housefly larvae and pupae through contact toxicity assay showed lethal concentration (LC)50 value of 0.41 μl/cm2 and of percentage inhibition rate (PIR) of 77.3 %, respectively. Fumigation assay was comparatively more effective with LC50 of 48.6 μl/L against housefly larvae, and a PIR value of 100 % against housefly pupae. The monoterpenes, citral, and 1,8-cineole, when assessed for their insecticidal activity against housefly larvae, showed LC50 of 0.002 and 0.01 μl/cm2 (contact toxicity assay) and LC50 of 3.3 and 2.4 μl/L (fumigation assay). For pupicidal assay, both citral and 1,8-cineole had a PIR value of 100 %. High efficacy of citral and 1,8-cineole against housefly, established them to be an active insecticidal agent of C. citratus oil. The study demonstrates potentiality of C. citratus oil as an excellent insecticide for housefly control, and the results open up the opportunity of oil/monoterpenes being developed into an eco-friendly, economical, and acceptable product.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the technical support provided by Mr. Ajai Kumar (AIRF JNU, India) for GC–MS and SPME analysis and Mr. Sabal Singh (IIT Delhi, India) for his help in experimental work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Applied Microbiology laboratory, Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, 110 016, India

    Peeyush Kumar, Sapna Mishra, Anushree Malik & Santosh Satya

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  1. Peeyush Kumar
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  2. Sapna Mishra
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  3. Anushree Malik
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  4. Santosh Satya
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Correspondence to Anushree Malik.

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Kumar, P., Mishra, S., Malik, A. et al. Housefly (Musca domestica L.) control potential of Cymbopogon citratus Stapf. (Poales: Poaceae) essential oil and monoterpenes (citral and 1,8-cineole). Parasitol Res 112, 69–76 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-012-3105-5

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