Abstract

Musca domestica, a major public health pest known for transmitting various pathogenic microbes to humans and animals. The extensive use of synthetic insecticides has led to resistant populations of common housefly, posing a significant challenge for public health and pest management. The present study evaluates the insecticidal potential of essential oils in synergistic trinary combinations against different developmental stages of M. domestica: Clove: Rosemary: Black Pepper (C:R:BP), Eucalyptus: Neem: Ginger (E:N:G), and Lemongrass: Sweet Basil: Turmeric (L:SB:T), were tested across a concentration range of 12.5 to 0.20% using standardized bioassays. C:R:BP demonstrated the highest efficacy, achieving 100% mortality at ? 6.25% across all life stages and maintaining significant activity even at lower concentrations. Probit analysis showed lower LC?? values for C:R:BP (0.54% in larvae; 0.32% in adults), while knockdown studies indicated rapid toxic action (KT?? = 9.7 min in adults). These results confirm a strong concentration-dependent response and stage-specific susceptibility, with adults being the most sensitive stage. Safety assessment of earthworm and honeybee studies indicates lower toxic effects to the beneficial insects. Semi filed trails were conducted to check the efficacy of the standardized formulation. Overall, the findings suggest that synergistic essential oil combination C:R:BP, offer a potential, eco-friendly, substitute for the effective management of M. domestica by substantial numerical reduction in housefly abundance.