Journal Article

Potential of Essential Oils to Prevent Fly Strike and their Effects on the Longevity of Adult Lucilia sericata

Khater, Hanem F., Geden, Christopher J.

2018

Overview

Lucilia sericata is a facultative ectoparasite causing fly strike or myiasis in warm-blooded vertebrates. It is controlled by traps or insecticides, but both have drawbacks and alternative ways of control are urgently needed. Essential oils (EOs) of vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides), cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and their blends (OBs); OB1 (2 ml of each EO plus 4 ml of sunflower oil as a carrier) and OB2 (2 ml of each EO) were tested. Oils were tested at 5% for deterrence assays, and a dose response assay 0.01–0.6%, was conducted to determine forced-contact toxicity. We evaluated the efficacy of oils as oviposition deterrents, repellents/attractants, and their effects on mortality and longevity of adult L. sericata. Our data indicated that 0.2% EOs killed all flies by 5 min post-treatment and that vetiver oil greatly deterred flies from the oviposition medium and reduced adult longevity. Sunflower oil repelled all flies from ovipositing and greatly reduced the lifespan of treated adults. The blend of the four oils (OB1) had the greatest repellent effect on the flies. EOs have insecticidal, repellent, and oviposition-deterrent activities against L. sericata that could be used for suppression of blow fly populations.

• Publisher: Society for Vector Ecology
• Subject: Adults / Agriculture / Animals / Aquatic insects / attractants / Baits / Biopesticides / Chrysopogon - chemistry / Chrysopogon zizanioides / Cinnamomum verum / Cinnamomum zeylanicum - chemistry / cinnamon / Citrus fruits / Diptera - drug effects / Diptera - physiology / dose response / ectoparasites / Emergence / Essential oils / Eucalyptus / Farms / Female / Females / flystrike / Hypertension / Insect Control / Insect Repellents - pharmacology / insect traps / Insecticides / Insecticides - pharmacology / Insects / Larvae / Lavandula - chemistry / Lavandula angustifolia / lavender / Lemons / Life cycles / Longevity / Lucilia sericata / Mentha piperita / Mortality / Mosquitoes / Musca domestica / Myiasis / Oils & fats / Oils, Volatile - pharmacology / Oviposition / Oviposition - drug effects / oviposition deterrence / oviposition deterrents / Parasites / Peppermint / Plant Oils - pharmacology / Prevention / Pupation / Repellency / repellent / Sheep / Sunflower / sunflower oil / toxicity / Traps / Ultrasonic testing / vertebrates / vetiver