BUZZ OFF! EFFICACY OF FLY-REPELLENT CANDLE WITH TEA TREE AND LEMONGRASS ESSENTIAL OILS

Abstract

The global spread of houseflies poses significant health concerns, as they can acquire, harbor, and transmit viruses, as well as multidrug-resistant bacteria that contribute to antibiotic resistance. Houseflies have also developed resistance to chemicals commonly used in existing pesticides. The main objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and tea tree (Ehretia microphylla) leaf essential oil candles against houseflies (Musca domestica) in terms of repellent efficacy and burning time. The researchers employed an experimental research method following procedures that included the collection of materials, extraction of essential oils, collection of sample pests, candle preparation, candle evaluation, and testing. A total of eighty (80) houseflies were used to test the efficacy of the fly-repellent candles. Each candle was placed in a cage containing twenty (20) houseflies for twenty (20) minutes and was closely observed by the researchers. The results revealed that the tea tree essential oil-infused candle was the most effective, with a repellency rate of 90%. The lemongrass essential oil-infused candle exhibited a repellency rate of 75%, while the tea tree and lemongrass essential oil-infused candle showed an 80% repellency rate. In terms of burning time, the lemongrass essential oil-infused candle burned the longest, with a total burning time of fifty-two (52) hours. The combined tea tree and lemongrass essential oil-infused candle burned for forty-eight (48) hours, while the tea tree essential oil-infused candle burned for forty-five (45) hours. The tea tree and lemongrass essential oil-infused candle demonstrated potential as a housefly repellent by repelling sixteen (16) out of twenty (20) houseflies, resulting in a repellency rate of 80%. It is recommended that future researchers replicate the study using alternative testing methods to further evaluate the product’s range and toxicity.