Impact of botanical essential oils on pupation and survival of Musca domestica L.

Abstract

Among the tested botanical extracts, Illicium verum (star anise) essential oil at 10% demonstrated the highest efficacy in disrupting normal pupal development. Only 65.00% of individuals successfully emerged as fully developed adults after a 10-day exposure period. A notable proportion exhibited transitional deformities, particularly malformed pupal-adult intermediates, indicating interference with metamorphic progression. In comparison, cypermethrin, a commonly applied synthetic insecticide at the same concentration, resulted in a lower mortality rate of 39.67% under identical experimental conditions. The superior performance of star anise oil highlighted its potential as a plant-derived alternative for insect control. These findings suggested that the incorporation of such natural products into integrated pest management strategies may reduce dependence on conventional synthetic chemicals.