Plant essential oils possess diversified insecticidal properties. Under screening programme of survey of bioactive agents for insect control 31 essential oils from different botanicals (2% in acetone), were studied for repellency and direct toxicity (insecticidal) against laboratory bred houseflies, Musca domestica L. The essential oils obtained from Ocimum gratissimum L., Thymus serpyllum L., Illicium verum Hooks, f., Myristica fragrans Houtt., Curcuma amada Roxb. showed 100% repellent activity, and Acorus calamus L. and Thymus serpyllum L. showed about 40% insecticidal activity. Results were compared with N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, dimethyl phthalate, malathion, pyrethrum extract, thymol, mineral oil and piperonylbutoxide. Biochemical studies of these promising oils may emerge new leads in developing future pesticides.
